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Washington County Deputy Returns To Work, Speaks About Being Shot

WASHINGTON COUNTY (KFSM) – Washington County Corporal Taylor Reed, and his K-9 partner Coty, are back on patrol, after Reed was accidentally shot in the c...

WASHINGTON COUNTY (KFSM) - Washington County Corporal Taylor Reed, and his K-9 partner Coty, are back on patrol, after Reed was accidentally shot in the chest by a woman in August of 2014.

According to authorities, Reed was shot by a woman who mistook him for her son, who had just shot her husband at a home near Elkins. For more on that story, click here.

Reed recounted the night of Aug. 20 for 5NEWS.

“We had lost connection with the caller, so we really didn`t know what situation we were getting into,” Reed said.

Reed said deputies parked far away from the home for an element of surprise, in case the original suspect was still on scene.

“Unfortunately, that is probably what led to my injuries,” Reed said. “When she heard noises, and heard people talking, she just started firing.”

Reed was shot under his arm, the bullet pierced his left lung, and stopped at his spine.

“I don`t remember feeling the impact,” Reed said.

He said he fell to the ground, and felt blood on his arm.

“I knew at that point that something had hit me,” Reed said. “I just [tried to] stay calm, and know the guys will try and help me out.”

Corporal Wade Fortin responded to the scene alongside Reed.

“You have so much stuff going through your head at that time,” Fortin said. “You start thinking about his family, and hoping he will be alright.”

Reed credits his fellow deputies, and officers, for his life.

“I never really felt like my life was in danger at any time, just because I had such great help,” Reed said.

Reed said he forgives the woman who shot him.

“I don`t feel like it was her fault in any way,” Reed said. “I just think it was an accident.”

Reed has fully recovered, but said that dark night in August will be something he carries with him for the rest of his life.

“This is something that, on every single call, I`m going to be thinking about,” Reed said. “I`m really glad that I am back. I`m just going to keep going, and keep my head up, and thank God every day that I am still here.”

The family of the woman who shot Reed reached out to him after the incident, and thanked him for his service.

Reed said he's happy to be back at work, but nowhere near as excited as his K-9 Coty.

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