BEAUMONT, Texas — A Sour Lake police officer is recovering in a Beaumont hospital after investigators say he was severely beaten outside a Sour Lake convenience store Monday night.
Officer William 'Bill' McKeon, Jr., 59, was called to J&R Market on Monday night about an unwanted person according to Sour Lake Police Chief Aaron Burleson.
Investigators say he was attacked by Bradley Joseph Pruitt, 45, of Bowling Green, Kentucky, almost immediately after getting out of his patrol car.
Chief Burleson told 12News the incident left Officer McKeon with a broken jaw, broken sinus cavity, eye socket and vertebrae.
He is still intubated and on a ventilator according to Burleson, but doctors say the prognosis at this time is good. They are waiting on the swelling in his brain to go down according to Burleson.
McKeon remains in critical condition, and will be undergoing several surgeries for the traumatic head injuries from the beating according to Hardin County Sheriff Mark Davis.
Burleson says the family of Officer McKeon is thankful for all the support from the Sour Lake residents and surrounding communities.
Rachel Rocquemore Bowie, the owner of Roc's Coffee Shop in Sour Lake, told 12News there are many customers she sees in a day, but one that stands out to her is Officer McKeon.
"Mr. Bill is so loving," she said. "He comes in here to get his coffee, his Texas pecans and his bottle of water."
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Roc's Coffee Shop will have a snow cone fundraiser from 2-6 p.m. on Thursday.
There is an account set up at the BBVA Compass Bank in Sour Lake to help the officer's family.
Checks can be made out to the William McKeon Medical Fund.
"When we're closed, Bill will come by here and let me know that he's come and he's checked and made sure we're secure," said Bowie. "He [is] just a wonderful person."
