News Specialist Stacey Butler spoke with Murray police officer Ross Huff, nearly a week after someone shot him four times when he responded to a forgery in progress call.

I was on my way to work and we have laptop computers in our vehicles. I noticed we had a forgery call holding, and I happened to be close, so I responded to the call.

Ever responded to a forgery in progress before?

Yes, several times. They're not the highest risk calls we deal with. They're usually something we deal with on a daily basis, actually. So I didn't expect much. I didn't expect what I got.

What happened?

I pulled into the north side of the business and pulled around back and took a parking place. I got out of the vehicle and I noticed an individual leaving the bank walking rather quickly. In my mind, I thought that was probably the person I was looking for. As he was walking away, I thought I'd better at least stay there a minute, and make sure if he was the person I was looking for, I could at least get a plate number before I contacted the complainant in the call.

And at that time an employee from the business came out and pointed him out as the suspect in the forgery. By this time he had reached his vehicle and had taken a seat, and I began to walk towards his vehicle and hollered out 'Hey.' And it was at that time that he produced a gun and began to fire.

I knew I was hit from the first round. I took my service weapon from my holster and I returned fire.

What went through your head?

It all happened so fast. It's more instinctive than reactive. We're trained to react to that, and that's what I tried to do. There wasn't much that went through my head, other than just reacting to the threat. There wasn't time to be afraid. There was just time to react and do what I had to do to keep out of harm's way, and that's what I intended on doing.

I knew that I'd been hit. I went down to the ground and continued to fire. And as the vehicle drove past I continued to fire. At the point I knew he had gone, my concern became myself.

I had a lot of burning sensation in my arm and my lower body. And I knew that I'd been hit at least 2 to 3 times. I just figured I couldn't do anything except get on the radio and get help coming, and wait.

I called out a code that means help me right now, and let them know I was down, and that I'd been hit 2 to 3 times and I needed medical.

What was going through your head then?

Trying to stay calm.

Stacey: Were you successful?

Somewhat, I think so.

That's when it hit you?

I knew all along what had happened once I'd taken the first round. But it was just a matter then that I knew I had to just buckle up and wait.

Did anyone from the bank come out?

A lot of people showed up. There were a lot of people trying to help me, and I appreciate that.

Did you start to wonder how long you could wait, if it was life or death?

I had decided I was going to be able to wait. People were asking me where I was hurt, and I was trying to tell them. But I didn't want to waste a lot of energy talking. I just decided I was going to be able to wait. The relief came when I started hearing sirens, and I knew help was on the way. So that was a big relief.

Was there ever a moment when you thought you might not make it, or were you pretty confident?

That question is always going to run through your mind in something like that. I knew I'd been hit. I didn't know exactly where. I knew I'd had a lot of burning sensation down low. And of course that really doesn't mean anything. Of course I've never been involved in anything like that so I didn't know if I was injured anywhere vital, or if it was going to be life threatening. So there was always that doubt. But like I said before, I had determined that I wasn't willing to let it get the best of me. So it was just a matter of waiting for help.

You have a wife and five kids. Did that sustain you?

Yep, that's what I thought about.

Did they pull you through?

Yeah. It was just having them, maybe not physically, but they were there spiritually and in my mind. So I just knew I had to make it for them. They needed me.

How are you feeling now?

Thankful. Really thankful. There's been a lot of good people that have sent flowers.. people I don't even know. They've sent me the best wishes, and I know I'll be back soon, and I couldn't be blessed more.

You're going to go back (to police work)?

Yes, of course. Because I don't know what else I'd do. I enjoy my job and there's a gratification to it and I just don't know what else I'd do rather than that. I love it, you can say, even in spite of this.

This happens to one in a million. So I look at it now-- it's going to be awfully long odds before it ever happens to me again. I just hope it doesn't have to happen to anyone else soon.

Will you do anything differently?

I'll probably wear my vest more often. But, there's always the risk of approaching people. And that's always going to be there, and that's something you can't be afraid to do. We approach people every day that could be armed as well as he. You can't get in a position where you're afraid to do something like that.