FORT WORTH, Texas — Cameras were lined up and down the sidewalk outside of John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth on Friday morning, waiting for a brief moment to see Deputy Brent Brown.
From the rolled-down window of a vehicle, Brown gave a thumbs up, smiled and waved.
The 12-year veteran of the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office was hospitalized on November 27th when he was shot. After nearly two weeks at JPS, he was discharged and escorted home to continue recovery.
That day in late November, Deputy Brown was off-duty but working security at the Fort Worth Community Credit Union. A man entered the bank, attempted to open an account in a fake name, and then sat down, authorities say.
Now identified by authorities as 35-year-old Leland Williams, video shows the suspect suddenly getting up and running toward the counter with a weapon drawn.
The gunman rushed in close range of Deputy Brown and shot four times. According to police, two of the bullets hit Deputy Brown.
Surveillance shows Brown falling to the ground but getting back up immediately and returning fire at the suspect, who was later arrested.
With wounds once described as "mortal", it is a relief to Tarrant County Sheriff Bill Waybourn that his deputy is getting better.
"We, today, get to see victory. And that victory is over evil," said Waybourn. "It has been an absolutely emotional time from the time that the shooting started to the time that we got through surgery and started on recovery."
Waybourn said Brown is recovering well. He walked a few laps around the hospital, but there is still a long way to go.
Brown has been with the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office since 2011. He started as a jailer and made his way up to becoming a sergeant. The sheriff said Brown wanted to go out on the street, so in 2019, he transitioned to field and patrol. He currently works in the fugitive division.
Together outside of JPS, the sheriff and other law enforcement officials said a prayer with Deputy Brown on his way home.
"He's got some serious rehab to do and we want him to be well," said Waybourn. "We'll be standing beside him."