Officer Kevin Downs of Taraval Station is continuing to recover at home after being shot in the head and partially paralyzed in the lead-up to Oct. 14th's Stern Grove manhunt.
Downs was shot by Nicholas McWherter after responding to reports of a mentally disturbed person at Big 5 Sporting Goods. An hour later, police cornered McWherter near a wooded area adjacent to the Edgewood Center for Children and Families, where he opened fire. McWherter was shot by police and died of his injuries two days later.
"One centimeter down, and this may have been a fatality for the officer," said acting SFPD chief Toney Chaplin in a statement the day after Downs' shooting. "He still has partial paralysis on the side of his body from the shot in head."
Since then, Downs has recovered enough to return home and make some public appearances; earlier this month, he visited his colleagues at Taraval Station and make an appearance for the nonprofit he founded, Ranchin' Vets, which works with veterans in their transition to civilian life.
Three weeks to the day that he was shot in the line of duty, @SFPDTaraval proudly welcomes #SFPD Ofc. Kevin Downs back for a visit! pic.twitter.com/XPoDdwjIru
— SFPDCares (@SFPDCares) November 4, 2016
"Officer Downs continues to receive support from family, friends, officers and the community during this time of recovery," said Taraval Station's Captain Denise Flaherty in a statement. "We continue to send prayers and good thoughts to Officer Downs and his family."
@SFPDTaraval @SanFranciscoPOA Kevin Downs still has a ways to go in his recovery. You can help him and his family. https://t.co/k81Uq8Le6p
— Lt. Troy Dangerfield (@1YCEU) November 11, 2016
A GoFundMe campaign for Downs and his family has now reached over $38,000 in donations, far outstripping the ask of $5,000, which was initially conceived to send Downs and his wife on a relaxing vacation.
