Arik Matson, the Waseca police officer who was shot in the head while responding to a 911 call earlier this month, opened his left eye earlier this week and is apparently making eye contact with people, according to an update on Facebook.
Kaleb Hurley, Lead Pastor of Hope Church of Albert Lea — which Matson is a member of — said in a video post that Matson is continuing his therapy and progressing each day. According to Hurler, Matson has even been able to smile.
"I was feeling like maybe he was tired, and I was sitting there praying for him, and so I began to step away," said Hurley in the Facebook post. "He reached up, grabbed my hand and pulled me back to himself, and I continued to pray for him, encourage him."
"He looked me straight in the eye and I was encouraged by that just to see that I think he can recognize certain people."
The BCA says Matson was shot in the head and "gravely injured" while responding to a 911 call on Jan. 6 about a suspicious person in the back yard of a house on the east side of Waseca.
A GoFundMe for Matson has been set up and continues to grow. Donations can also be made to Farmers State Bank of Freeborn, Hartland or Albert Lea.
