Injured trooper out of ICU awaiting word on arm surgery

Injured State Police Trooper Abe Bean is out of intensive care and waiting on word about an upcoming arm surgery.

Bean and fellow Trooper Cadin Spessert were injured in a Dec. 17 shootout in Martinsburg while trying to execute a search warrant.

Investigators said Tobias Ganey opened fire on the troopers. They returned fire claiming Ganey’s life.

Spessert suffered one gunshot wound and is out of the hospital.

Bean was shot four times, including twice in his left leg. The leg had to be amputated above the knee.

Bean’s father, Brian Bean, gave an update of his son’s condition on Tuesday’s MetroNews “Talkline.” He said he’s just beginning the process of learning how to get around as an amputee.

“He’s been starting to get up and being mobile and learning to live in a different way. His life is going to be different and his adjustment to that is beginning now,” Bean said.

His son will also have to undergo at least one surgery on one of his arms that also suffered a gunshot wound. Brian Bean said orthopedic surgeons will handle that procedure.

“It’s very swollen, which has prevented any surgery up to this point and we are waiting for that to go down and then schedule the surgery and hopefully get his armed fixed. That is limiting his mobility also,” Bean said.

Even though out of the ICU at a Fairfax, Va., hospital, Bean is still dealing with a lot of pain, his father said.

“I think the pain right now keeps him in a state where he can’t plan for the future and get his head around figuring things out,” Brian Bean said. “It’s hard to deal with right now. When he’s ready he’ll be ready.”

The elder Bean said his son and the entire family believe in the power of prayer.

“I would like to thank West Virginia for keeping him in their prayers and lifting him up to God and we truly believe God has had a hand in this and watched over Abe and protected him,” Bean said.