God performed a miracle the night of November 16, in Greenville, South Carolina, when a deputy was critically injured in the line of duty. This is the message Oconee County Sheriff Mike Crenshaw delivered during a church survey on Sunday, after one of his deputy was shot, Corporal Lucas Watts. Crenshaw stated that Deputy Watts received a bullet to the head that should have sadly been fatal. But thanks to numerous prayers and God he was able to survive.
Additionally, according to recent evidence the man who shot Watts was Gregory Wayne Maxwell, 50. He now faces five counts of attempted murder and possession of a weapon. The incident took place on a Thursday at 2:15 p.m. after Maxwell refused to pull over for traffic stop. As such, a pursuit was initiated. A shootout began after the pursuit and it is what lead Watts to be inured.
Deputy Watts was then taken to the hospital where he was stabilized. Now, he has a long road to full recovery. Furthermore, Maxwell was also injured at the scene by “at least one gunshot wound” from law enforcement. Additionally, he was the taken to the nearest hospital as well.
Now investigators say Maxwell will be formally charged after being discharged from the hospital. Maxwell will have to face the Oconee County Magistrate who will be sentencing Maxwell and determining his outcome.
Nerve Racking Moments
Now, people know Watts managed to reach stable condition, though he still has a “rollercoaster ride” ahead of hum. However, this was not the case in those crucial moments during the time period of Watts getting shot and his arrival at the hospital. They truly believed the injury to his head was irreversible and would not survive.
Crenshaw stated in the Sunday service:
While he was on scene after the shooting, he said he got a phone call saying he was needed at the hospital. He drove from Fair Play to Greenville Memorial Hospital, where he said he was told that the deputy’s wounds were not survivable.
Furthermore, throughout this difficult time, sheriffs also had the hard duty of giving notice of the situation to Watts wife. She had only recently given birth to their baby in September of this year and now she faced the possibility of being a singe parent. After being informed of Watts conditioned and the possible outcome of the situation, she desperately told the sheriff that “she needed to see him.” She, along with the sheriff, arrived at the hospital before the ambulance. Crenshaw told his churched that “They took the wife in and she touches him and he starts moving.”
Seconds after, Watts was rushed into surgery. During this time, Crenshaw was receiving numerous amounts of messages. They where from sheriffs across the region saying they were praying. Social media blew up during those critical moments with many people saying they were “praying, praying, praying.”
God Has Made a Miracle
Also, after much praying and praying during Watts’ surgery, the doctors declared the procedure a success. This was a result that no one expected, and many really believed it was impossible. Despite everyone’s disbeliefs, Watts made it through surgery and through the night. After his operation on November 17, he started to show significant improvements. Watts began to respond to the nurse’s commands and started to move around different parts of his body.
Additionally, for anyone who wishes to contribute, a support fund for Watts and his family was opened in order to help them provide him with the proper resources to help him fully recovery. The fund has already managed to raise $169,150 and their goal is to raise $175,000.
Lastly, as Crenshaw mentioned in his service “I don’t know what tomorrow holds, but I’m telling you, God performed a miracle Thursday night in Greenville, South Carolina. I’ve got no doubt in my mind.”
Five days ago, Watts had been taken off the ventilator. However, his recovery will continue to be a “roller coaster ride.”
Written By Nohemi Sanchez
Sources:
Fox Carolina: ‘I saw a dead man come back to life’: Sheriff says ‘miracle’ saved deputy shot in head
4 WYFF: ‘A miracle’: SC deputy survives ‘not survivable’ wound through power of prayer, sheriff says
Greenville News: Charges filed against man who shot, injured Oconee County deputy
Featured Image Courtesy of Bruce Fingerhood Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of John Flickr Page – Creative Common License
