St. Louis Police Officer Nathan Spiess, who was shot in Ferguson following a pursuit with a homicide suspect, was released from the hospital Sunday.Photo: 5 On Your Side
One of two St. Louis police officers who were shot Jan. 26 was released from the hospital earlier this week. The other one is still hospitalized.
Nathan Spiess, 28, and Colin Ledbetter, 25, were shot in Ferguson following a pursuit with a homicide suspect. A third officer shot and killed that suspect. Spiess was shot once. Doctors placed a rod and several screws inside his leg, and he was released from the hospital Sunday.
“I fell back to the ground and knew I was shot,” Spiess wrote in response to questions from 5 On Your Side. “I was more focused on catching the suspect and making sure my partner and other officers were alright.”
Ledbetter is improving in the hospital and is no longer in critical condition. Doctors removed him from a ventilator Sunday, and he is recovering from a life-threatening wound to his femoral artery.
Spiess said officers would give him updates about Ledbetter while the two were hospitalized together, and, when Ledbetter would regain consciousness, he would ask how Spiess was doing, too.
“That should be a testament of not only how strong Officer Ledbetter is but how much he cares about other people,” Spiess wrote. “Having worked with Colin, I know how tough and strong he is.”
