Navy Yard Responder Makes Strides In Recovery, Thanks Supporters

Scott Williams, a Metropolitan Police Department officer who was shot while responding to the Navy Yard shooting in September, reached out to Patch in response to increased community support on his GoFundMe page after an article was published earlier this month. 

"I’d like to say thank you to everybody who’s been so thoughtful to me," Williams said. "Going through this, it’s nice that people were being so generous and thoughtful." 

Williams is recovering from shots in both legs that cracked one and shattered the other, leaving him unable to walk. 

He was one of the first police officers on the scene to stop Aaron Alexis who killed 12 people in the mass shooting. Williams was shot several times. 

But in the past few months he has made considerable progress, And guess what: he's walking again! 

"I’m on the mend," Williams said. "I’ve come a long way since the first days, thanks to (MedStar) Washington Hospital Center."

Williams' still has to go to physical therapy on a regular basis and his recovery process will be slow, he said. But as soon as he is back in good physical shape, he will return to his job as a police officer. 

As Williams heals, he hopes that others who were injured during the incident are healing as well, Williams said. And his heart goes out to the families and friends of the shooting victims. 

"They’re in a different position than I am... as far as what they are going through," Williams said. "It's a terrible thing, losing a family member there. Anything anyone is going through can't compare."

Williams' campaign is still open on GuFundMe, and his friends wrote that, "although Scott has made great strides since being shot, the recovery process will take time and there are many unforeseen expenses on the horizon."