Wounded Boston Police Officer Helped Save Dic Donohue After Watertown Shootout
BOSTON (CBS) – Boston police said the highly decorated officer who was shot in the face Friday in Roxbury was honored in 2014 for his role in saving the life of MBTA Officer Dic Donohue after he was injured during a shootout with the Boston Marathon bombers.
Read: Boston Police: Injured Officer Remains In Critical Condition, Was Shot 'Without Provocation'
The Boston Police Department said Officer John Moynihan was shot in the face at point blank range by Angelo West, who was subsequently shot and killed by responding officers.
Moynihan remains hospitalized in critical condition, but is expected to survive. The bullet that struck him beneath his right eye remains lodged behind his ear, and a plan for possible surgery is not yet known.
He is in a medically-induced coma at Boston Medical Center.
According to Evans, surgery currently isn't an option.
Members of the police force visited the wounded officer throughout the day, while Moynihan's sister and girlfriend have stayed by his side.
In 2014 Moynihan received the Boston Police Department's Medal of Honor. In addition, he was also a recipient that year of the Nation's Top Cop Award, given to him by President Barack Obama.
The awards were bestowed upon Moynihan for his actions in Watertown several days after the Boston Marathon bombings in 2013.
Police said Moynihan performed "heroic and relentless" life-saving measures on Donohue, who survived a shootout with the Tsarnaev brothers despite being critically injured.
"Obviously a very gut-wrenching situation, and has an even bigger impact when we found out who the officer was," Donohue told WBZ-TV on Saturday about the Roxbury shooting. "John played a part in saving my life, and that's something I will never forget. His record of service speaks for itself."
Moynihan is a veteran Army Ranger who served in the Iraq War from 2005 to 2008.
Police Commissioner William Evans said on Saturday that Moynihan was shot "without provocation" after six officers approached West's vehicle and he opened fire.
"All of my officers are praying for his safe recovery. We are all very lucky that he is still with us today," Evans said.