Auburn Police Department Officer Webb Sistrunk was critically wounded in the line of duty on Sunday night, but his road to recovery got a lift this week.

Sistrunk was airlifted Sunday to Piedmont Columbus Hospital in the shooting that fatally wounded Officer William Buechner and also saw Officer Evan Elliot transported to a local hospital.

Sistrunk’s status was downgraded on Wednesday from ICU to critical care, according to Jessica Roberts, Piedmont Columbus’ communication director.

While Sistrunk will continue to undergo a number of medical procedures moving forward, his spirits were lifted when his K-9 partner, Leon, paid him a special visit in the hospital.

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Leon, whose third birthday will be in July, was actually with Sistrunk during the shooting but escaped unscathed, according to the Opelika-Auburn News.

“The Sistrunk family thanks everyone for their continued prayers for our officer and asks that you keep the Buechner and Elliott families in your prayers as well,” Roberts said in a statement.

Elliott has been treated and released from the hospital.

There has been a GoFundMe set up for Sistrunk to help cover medical costs.

Sean Ross is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn