Vigil held for shot officer in hometown of Norwood

NORWOOD, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) -- Outside of  St. Catherine's church, candles were burning brightly for Boston Police Officer John Moynihan, who remains in the hospital after being shot in the face at point-blank range on Friday.

People who didn't even know the Norwood native showed up in solidarity.

"This is what the town is about, it's a family community," Paul Bishop a member of the town government, said.

Moynihan's childhood friend Tom Donovan visited him in the hospital. It was emotional, he said, to see his friend from the age of four in a hospital bed.

"He was sleeping when I was there," Donovan said. "I did go in and sit with is family."

Friday night, Moynihan nearly died after working a traffic stop on Humboldt Avenue in Roxbury. Investigators say the driver of the car, Angelo West ,bolted out of the vehicle and started shooting.

A bullet lodged behind Officer Moynihan's ear. West was shot and killed in the crossfire during a shoot out with police.

"If anyone can survive this, John can survive it. He's one of the toughest guys I have ever met," Donovan said.

Moynihan is also an Iraq war veteran and a decorated police officer who is recognized by the nation for his work in 2013 during the Watertown shootout with the accused Marathon bombers.

"Last year, the vice president and I had the chance to honor Officer Moynihan as one of America's top cops for his bravery in the line of duty," President Obama said Monday during a visit to Boston. "We wish him a full and speedy recovery."

Cox Media Group