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Just more than two weeks after he was shot in the head, Officer Josh Vadell became a father for the third time.
Lucy Giovanna Vadell was born at 11:38 a.m. Monday, her mother, Laura Vadell, announced on Facebook.
Josh Vadell was shot early Sept. 3, while approaching three men allegedly committing an armed robbery on three others.
After Vadell was shot, his partner returned fire, killing one of the suspects.
Martel Chisholm and Demetris Cross are accused in the shooting.
The 29-year-old officer has progressed faster than his doctors expected, his surgeon told media when he was released Thursday. He is now in a rehabilitation center, where he took his first 10 steps on his own, his wife proudly announced.
Where the couple is has not been disclosed to protect their privacy. But Laura Vadell did approve the baby's birth to be reported publicly.
Wounded officer takes first step
Just two weeks after he was shot in the head, Atlantic City Police Officer Josh Vadell walked 10 steps in rehab, his wife said on Facebook.
"He is amazing," Laura Vadell wrote Sunday. "God is good!!!!"
Vadell left AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center's City Campus on a stretcher Thursday, heading to the undisclosed rehabilitation center. He gave a thumbs up to the crowd of police officers, firefighters, emergency workers, civilians and media as he left.
Vadell was standing and taking a few steps assisted at the hospital, said Dr. Jorge Eller, who performed the four-hour operation that helped save the 29-year-old officer's life.
While Vadell has months of work ahead, odds are he will make a full recovery, Eller said. Vadell and his partner, Thomas McCabe, were approaching three men allegedly robbing three others with a gun early Sept. 3, when one of the suspects shot Vadell. His partner returned fire, killing one of the suspects.
The quick actions of Vadell's partner and the response by the other officer on his shift "collectively saved his life," Deputy Chief William Mazur said. 'I thought the worst, unfortunately," Mayor Don Guardian said of his reaction when he first heard of the shooting. "This shows the power of prayer."
