MOUNT VERNON, Wash. — The Mount Vernon officer who was shot during a standoff situation made what his family calls a "huge step forward," according to a Facebook page that supports Officer Mike McClaughry.
"A nurse reported today that my dad opened his eyes, looked around and then fell back asleep. He is still in ICU as critical but it is a HUGE step forward!!" the Facebook post said.
Officer Mike "Mick" McClaughry remains in stable but critical condition at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
One of the doctors who has been treating him was going to give an update on his condition Wednesday, but the news conference was canceled.
The officer's daughter, April, who was going to speak about her father's condition, was sick Wednesday.
The Facebook page appears to be managed by the daughter. A post earlier Wednesday read:
"Just wanted to say thank you for all of your love and well wishes. It's truly been amazing and I know my dad will be overwhelmed by the outpouring of support. Unfortunately I've come down with the flu but I do have more pictures to share and will post them when I'm able."
Members of the family of one of the three suspects in McClaughry’s shooting say they support him and the Mount Vernon Police Department.
They were at Skagit County District Court on Wednesday as Ernesto Rivas, 44, had his charge read aloud to him by a judge.
"We are all part of this community, we know the police officer, and we support all of our officers here, and we’re just so sorry that something like this has happened," Selena Evans, cousin of Ernesto Rivas, told KIRO 7 News.
Other family members said McClaughry was their D.A.R.E. officer when they were schoolkids.
Rivas and two teens are charged with attempted first-degree murder for shooting McClaughry in the back of the head.
The 16-year-old charged as an adult in this case, Austin Gonzales, also appeared in court Wednesday.
Prosecutors said he and a 15-year-old, who is charged as a juvenile, shot another teen in a gang-related act and then holed up at Rivas’s house.
Police responded, gunshots were fired from the house, and McClaughry was hit in the head.
Evans said the family has been the target of attacks on social media.
“I would appreciate if people didn't attack our family,” she said, “because we're not monsters. Just because we support Ernesto and what he's going through… anyone would do that for their family.”
Prosecutors have 30 days until their deadline to file in superior court where this case would have to proceed because of the alleged crimes.
“We like to file when we have sufficient information that we feel like we can really go forward to a trial,” prosecutor Rosemary Kaholokula said, “so we need to be able to know what people are going to say. We need to know more about what happened, rather than just the very bare basics. We just don’t feel like we have enough information now.”
Kaholokula said the additional time will allow police time to question more witnesses and complete their investigation, which could change the seriousness of certain charges. Right now, all three suspects are charged with attempted murder in the first degree in the shooting of McClaughry. The teenagers are also charged with attempted murder in the second degree in the shooting of the other teen.
Cox Media Group
