San Diego Police Sergeant Anthony Elliott shares his survival story after being shot, aiming to help others cope with trauma through a new wellness program.
SAN DIEGO — Nearly two years after being shot in the head in the line of duty, San Diego Police Sergeant Anthony Elliott is sharing his remarkable survival story with law enforcement agencies across the region as part of a new wellness program initiative.
Elliott was shot on December 7, 2023, when he and other officers responded to a stolen vehicle found outside a Ralph’s in 4S Ranch. Body camera video shows Curtis Harris, who was wanted in connection with a domestic violence dispute, running outside and firing several shots that struck Elliott in the head from five feet away. Harris was killed when officers returned fire. Elliott was rushed to the hospital and underwent brain surgery, miraculously remaining conscious throughout the ordeal.
“He shoots me in the head from five feet away,” Elliott said, recounting the moment of the shooting. “The first thing i thought…why am I not dead?”
The injuries left Elliott initially paralyzed, causing him to lose use of his left arm and leg and rendering him unable to walk. Despite having a bullet still lodged in his brain and experiencing numbness in one of his legs, Elliott returned to work last October after months of treatment and physical therapy.
“I wanted to go back and work and progress in my career….another aspect is, I want to show my kids what a strong leader is,” Elliott said.
Friday, Elliott spoke about his experience in front of law enforcement representatives from agencies across the region. He hopes to launch a comprehensive wellness program designed to provide people with tips on work-life balance and strategies for coping with trauma while learning to overcome it and thrive.
“One of the things I learned in the hospital is why some people don’t recover from things like this,” Elliott said.
Elliott, a father of three, emphasized that being conscious during the traumatic experience has made his message particularly powerful. “And that’s why, when I’m talking to people, it’s so powerful for me. Because I was conscious, I was feeling all the feels. I experienced this failure, this loss, this pain,” Elliott said.
While Elliott remains passionate about his job, his priorities have shifted in ways both he and his wife have come to appreciate. “As far as family and not working as much, and things I try to enjoy in the moment that I necessarily didn’t before, ” said Elliott. His wife reflected on the ongoing recovery process, saying, “You kind of get back to your daily life, and then there’s some quiet moments where you think about it and you reflect. It just reminds us of what happened and where the journey is.”