A wounded Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper received a special gift while he prepares to get back to work.
Trooper Austin Ellis, who was shot in an exchange of gunfire with a suspect on Aug. 26, was recently the recipient of an afghan created by members of an organization called Covering the Blue, according to a news release.
Afghans are sent to police officers and corrections officers wounded in the line of duty around the country, as a show of support and appreciation.
He is seen in a photo released by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol with his wife, Kristen, and daughters Brooklyn and Jovi holding the afgan.
Ellis initiated a traffic stop in Woodward for a potential seat belt violation. The driver failed to yield, then entered the parking lot of a hotel where he engaged the trooper in gunfire.
Ellis was flown by helicopter to the OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City.
He is still off duty, awaiting medical release to return.
