ARNOLD, Mo. — Arnold Police officer Ryan O’Connor made it through a second life-saving surgery Thursday and remains in critical condition at St. Anthony’s Medical Center.
O’Connor was shot in the back of the head by a burglary suspect earlier this week.
News of his second surgery spread at a prayer service for him at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Arnold, where fellow officers, first responders and their families leaned on their faith and one another to pray for his recovery.
“At this point in time, all that you have left is to pray. You have to have faith that it will all work out,” said Jennifer Roberts, the wife of another officer.
Friends of O’Connor’s family say they can feel the support from the hospital.
“When I told Ryan’s dad I had to get to the church service, his eyes welled up with tears, so grateful for all the community’s done,” Jeff Roorda of the St. Louis Police Officer’s Association said.
Roberts said the community wants to be there for the officer and his family “because he’s been there for us.”
