Raleigh Chief of Police Estella Patterson took a moment Friday before a planned promotion ceremony to ask for prayers for an officer shot in the line of duty earlier this week.
"Keep our hero and brother in blue, Master Officer Max Gillick and his family in your prayers," she said.
Other WRAL Top Stories
"Officer Gillick was shot Tuesday evening as he was performing his duties in protecting a victim who had been assaulted in a domestic situation. Officer Gillick courageously, courageously provided cover for this victim, and in the process, he was shot by the suspect."
That suspect, Antonio Rodrigues, 70, died in an exchange of gunfire with police. Police say Rodrigues broke into the Raleigh home of his ex-wife and shot and killed her companion, John Rowe, 73.
Gillick is in critical condition at WakeMed.
"While he is progressing well in his recovery, he is not out of woods," Patterson said Friday.
She concluded, "Max, if you can hear us from your room, we are praying for you, and we are praying for a speedy and a full recovery. Keep fighting and stay RPD strong. We love you, and we got you."
People can send cards and well-wishes to the Raleigh Police Department:
Attention: Shelly Owens
6716 Six Forks Road
Raleigh, NC 27615
Gillick has worked as a Raleigh police officer since June 2022.
Raleigh police said Gillick served in the Army as a captain in field artillery with the 82nd Airborne.
Gillick’s LinkedIn page shows a stint in the U.S. Army, where he was based at Fort Liberty and served overseas in Germany.
The LinkedIn page also shows he attended the University of Oklahoma, earning a master’s degree in Criminal Justice and Corrections in 2023 and holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Texas A&M University.
Rick Armstrong with the Raleigh Police Protective Association said he didn’t personally know Gillick, but has had conversations with friends and family.
“I mean, for going from the military to law enforcement, that's a selfless decision and life decisions he's making,” Armstrong said of Gillick. “See, I'd say he's very selfless and very dedicated to community.”