A Henry County police officer shot at a dentist’s office nearly three weeks ago is making progress with his recovery in rehab, although his wife had a recent health scare while visiting him, the police chief said.

Officer Michael Smith was shot in the face during a struggle with a man in a dentist’s office near McDonough on Dec. 6. A single gunshot critically injured Smith and killed the man, 53-year-old DiMaggio McNelly.

Smith has shown signs of improvement in rehab at the Shepherd Center, Henry police Chief Mark Amerman said in a video posted to Facebook on Saturday.

“Yesterday, he took 10 steps, which is really encouraging,” Amerman said. “Your thoughts and prayers going out to him are very much appreciated; I want to let you know that it’s working.”

However, while Smith’s wife was visiting him recently, she passed out and hit her head, Amerman said.

She was rushed to Piedmont Atlanta Hospital next door and was found to have blood clots. She underwent emergency surgery and is recovering at the hospital, Amerman said.

“Truly, the Smith family is being tested, so I’m asking the community to please continue to send your thoughts and prayers to the Smith family, as they both now are recovering,” he said.

A GoFundMe page to raise money for Smith and his family has passed its goal of $20,000.

The officer involved has been identified as Officer Michael Smith. He's been with the force since 2011.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth, among others, will no longer be considered fee-free days at U.S. National Parks. While the MLK National Historic Park in Atlanta doesn't charge admission, the new schedule will affect such metro Atlanta sites as Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez

Featured

Former Fulton County election worker Ruby Freeman talks to her daughter, Wandrea ArShaye "Shaye" Moss, a former Georgia election worker, after she testified before the U.S. House Select Committee at its fourth hearing on its Jan. 6 investigation on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, June 21, 2022. (Yuri Gripas/Abaca Press/TNS)

Credit: TNS