Injured Sheriff's Deputy Making Progress

Jon Jordan, News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Oklahoma County Sheriff Deputy Major John Waldenville was doing what he had for over seven years, providing off-duty security at Cattleman's Steakhouse.

When he stepped outside with a bank bag in hand May 21, the sheriff's department says that is when Waldenville was targeted and shot by two men, 18-year-old Keonta Prince and 29-year-old Christopher Baker.

Since the shooting, Waldenville has been hospitalized in critical condition in the intensive care unit at the University of Oklahoma Medical Center.

"The first week we didn't have a clue what was going to happen or how he was going to do," said Waldenville's wife Marjorie.

However, since the earlier days of wondering what would happen, Waldenville is beginning to make vast improvements.

Marjorie said, "He's doing a lot better, he's making a lot of improvement. Today he waved at me, which was big, that was huge."

Waldenville's son Jason has been pleased with his dad's recovery.

"Seems like it's a victory each day with every little movement," he said.

One thing that has made it easier for family to be pleased with Waldenville's recovery is knowing the men accused of the crime are behind bars charged with felony counts of shooting with intent to kill and robbery with a firearm.

"They had me pretty angry, but I was so focused on him and what was going on with him and I knew they were working to catch these guys and sure enough they did," says Marjorie.

While family is happy with the improvements Maj. Waldenville has made, they also recognize he has a long way to go. He remains in ICU and doctors have told the family the gunshot wound he suffered has caused him to lose permanent vision in his right eye.