Wounded Officer Grew Up In Verona, Described As A Very Private Person
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Eight years with Pittsburgh Police and now the force is rallying around Officer Morgan Jenkins who was shot in the line of duty early Thursday morning.
"The thoughts of the city and the Public Safety Department are with the officers and with their families today," said Michael Huss of the Pittsburgh Department of Public Safety.
Jenkins, a 1999 graduate of Oakmont's Riverview High School, grew up in the Verona area. He is described by his mother as a very private person.
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Officer Jenkins underwent surgery Thursday to remove two bullets, one from his shoulder and one from under his bulletproof vest.
After waiting most of the day for word following the tricky surgery, those close to Jenkins say he has begun to feel some tingling below the knees and some slight movement. It's all described as good news.
He has a long recovery ahead of him after an altercation with suspect James Robert Hill.
"The police bureau is here in force," Huss said outside of the hospital where Jenkins is being treated.
Jenkins is a city officer assigned to Zone Five in the East End.
It's a zone that just a little over a week ago remembered three of its fallen officers, Paul Scuillo II, Stephen Mayhle and Eric Kelly, who died in a tragic shooting in Stanton Heights four years ago.
"I think we're very fortunate that this situation wasn't worse than what it was," Huss added. "Last month we had an officer involved shooting out in the same zone."
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