A Ferguson police officer suffered a serious brain injury and is still fighting for his life after protests on Friday, marking the 10th anniversary of Michael Brown’s death, devolved into a violent riot.
Travis Brown, a 36-year-old father of two, was knocked to the ground by a protester later identified as Elijah Gantt, 28. Brown was unconscious at the scene, and Gantt was still on top of him when other officers pulled him off and attempted to aid the fallen officer.
According to a Wednesday report from local NBC News affiliate KSDK, Brown’s family has released a statement on his current condition, which read in part:
On the early morning of Saturday, August 10, 2024, our beloved, Officer Travis Brown, suffered a serious physical injury while performing his tour of duty. He is currently in critical condition, surrounded by his loved ones, as he bravely fights for his life. We are holding onto hope and trusting in the power of faith to see him through this difficult time.
Travis is more than a police officer; he is a devoted father, son, brother, uncle, godfather, and friend. A man of strong faith, his heart is as big as his smile, and his positive energy is truly contagious. TJ is also an athlete, an adventurer, a lover of movies, and so much more. We know he is determined to continue living life to the fullest once he has recovered.
They concluded the statement by asking for continued prayers as they wait to see whether Brown is able to recover from the injury.
Former St. Louis County Police Chief Tim Fitch, who hired Brown in 2012 and worked with him for two years, wished Brown well and spoke very highly of him.
“I remember well when I was commissioning him and having given his oath of office, he had a family member pin his badge on. I just remember the big smile on his face, and I thought, ‘Boy, this guy’s got one of those contagious kind of smiles,’” Fitch said. “There’s a lot of raw emotion about whether or not he’s going to be able to beat this and survive. And if he does, is he going to ever be able to come back to work? He was very ambitious. It didn’t take him long to get into a specialized unit. He was in a couple.”
Fitch shared the family’s official fundraising page as well, asking family and friends to donate what they could in an effort to aid Brown’s recovery.
The community has also rallied around Brown, gathering to pray for him and his family after he was hurt.
