The Brief
- Fort Worth Detective Matt Pearce is reflecting on the 10-year anniversary of a 2016 shootout where he was shot six times during a fugitive pursuit.
- Following a grueling two-year recovery and nerve damage, Pearce chose to return to the force full-time as a traffic investigator rather than taking medical retirement.
- The gunman was killed in the initial shootout, while his son later received two years of probation for his role in the high-speed chase and foot pursuit.
FORT WORTH, Texas – This month marks 10 years since a Fort Worth police officer was shot and nearly lost his life in the line of duty. Today, Det. Matt Pearce remains on the force, and he’s reflecting on his close call.
Officer Matt Pearce Shot
The backstory:
On March 15, 2016, Det. Pearce and other officers were in pursuit of a wanted fugitive. The chase went from the roadway to on foot.
Pearce was in a wooded area and mistakenly thought his suspect was several yards ahead of him. An ambush followed.…