Former Pullman firefighter and WSU alumnus Matthew Pearce was severely injured in a shootout in Fort Worth Texas on March 15 while on duty, according to CBS News.

Pearce, a police officer, was shot multiple times in the chest, leg and cheek by a wanted fugitive. The assailant was fatally shot during the shootout and his son, who was also a part of this incident, is now in jail, according to CBS News.

Although he is facing life-threatening injuries and a few complications, there have been signs of continuing improvement and his wife is keeping the public updated on his health status, according to the Fort Worth Police Department.

Pearce has received continuous support from family, coworkers, friends, and community members in Pullman and Fort Worth.

Pearce graduated from WSU with a criminal justice degree in 2002 and was a Pullman firefighter for five years. For the past seven years he has been working for the Fort Worth Police Department.

The Pullman Fire Department has many people that worked alongside Pearce during his years as a firefighter and Mike Heston, fire chief, saw him as a reliable and positive worker, according to KLEW TV.

Pearce remains in critical condition at John Peter Smith Hospital under close care and supervision.

Reporting by Latisha Jensen