HARNETT COUNTY – More than two weeks after Deputy Cpl. Eric Cook was shot in the face and chest while on the job, his wife Melissa is speaking out.

• Wife of Deputy Cpl. Eric Cook thanks the community for their love and support
• Sheriff describes Cook's recovery as amazing
• Cook was shot in the face while on the job by a 16 year old

“We are simply overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support from everyone. Words cannot express the gratitude that we have for the continued love and support that has been shown to us over the last two weeks.”

Since the shooting, the community has organized fundraisers and more for the family.

“This incident could have been so much worse for our family if not for the grace and mercy of God. We also ask to continue prayer for Eric in his road to recovery as we continue to pray for all law enforcement families who have lost loved ones in the line of duty. In this fight, no one fights alone.”

Though Cook is home from the hospital he still has a long road to recovery to go.

Melissa explained, “Currently Eric’s mouth is wired shut and will be on a liquid diet for the next several weeks due to his jaw being fractured on the left side. Eric also sustained multiple facial fractures on the right side of his mouth to include the orbital floor and rim which have all been repaired. His eye sight in his right eye continues to improve a little each day but it is unknown of how long the recovery time will regain full eyesight in his right eye.”

Sheriff Wayne Coats spoke about the incident and his reaction to hearing Cook was shot on that Saturday night in April.

“It was the most sickening phone call I’ve had since I’ve been sheriff. When you get that call that one of your officers had been shot. But I knew when he got shot or they told me he had been shot I knew Eric always wore his vest so I felt good at that point unless he was shot somewhere else. And it was less than two minutes, I was already on the interstate headed to the hospital and they called me back and said he’d been shot in the face. And that was a long drive to Cape Fear Valley,” said Coats.

Mario Garza, 16, is accused of shooting Cook.

His charges include attempted first degree murder and assault with a deadly weapon.

He’s additionally been charged with two counts larceny of a firearm and two counts possession of a firearm.

Previously in February, Garza was charged with carrying a knife at Overhills High School.

“The young man showed no remorse. He showed no remorse when he was in court for his first appearance on this,” said Sheriff Coats.

As Cook heals, Sheriff Coats describes his recovery as amazing.

“I have been in contact with him daily, been to his house and it’s amazing his recovery. He was walking, he’s on his walker - but his recovery I mean being shot in the face with a .45, it’s amazing how he looks. I mean I’ve seen people that have been in fights that have looked a lot worse than he looks being shot with a .45. But the man, he is strong, he’s young and he’s already told me, he told me this that night that he was shot, he said, 'Sheriff, I’m ready to come back to work.' So this young man is recovering a lot faster than I anticipated.”