Rookie officer shot in Queens released from hospital to cheers, applause
JAMAICA, Queens (WABC) -- An NYPD officer who was shot in the line of duty left the hospital on Friday afternoon and was met with a sea of his brothers and sisters in blue.
Officer Brett Boller had been in Jamaica Medical Center over the last nine days after he was shot in the leg. He is now on the road to recovery.
Boller -- his badge dangling from his neck and a Mets baseball cap on his head -- gave a thumbs up as he was wheeled out of the hospital, where doctors likely saved his life after he was shot by a suspect in Queens.
The rookie officer was responding to a disturbance on an MTA bus when he encountered suspect Devin Spraggins who is accused of opening fire and striking Boller.
Doctors say the bullet damaged a major artery and had it not been for his partner and other quick-thinking officers, the rookie officer could have died.
Dozens of fellow officers lined up and applauded Friday as Boller, the son of a veteran NYPD inspector, waved and smiled as he entered a waiting van.
Boller, who underwent three surgeries, will be rehabbing at a facility close to his Hauppauge home.
"He could have lost the entire leg and he could have lost his life, this is a really big deal," said Dr. William Nugent. "He's still got a ways to his recovery, but he's still has his leg and he still has his life."
Spraggins, 22, was eventually arrested after an intense manhunt.
He faces charges of attempted murder, assault, criminal possession of a weapon and obstructing governmental administration. If convicted, Spraggins could face 40 years to life in prison for each of the attempted murder charges.
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