Officer John R. Bell was shot three times by an armed suspect in Haltom City on January 29, 2013. (credit: Fort Worth Police Dept.)

FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) - A Fort Worth police officer remains hospitalized in stable condition after being shot three times Tuesday afternoon. Officer John R. Bell faces more surgery today after being shot during a confrontation in Haltom City. Bullets struck Officer Bell in the groin, hand and eye.

Officer Bell happened to be on the scene as Haltom City police pursued a drug suspect. The shootout left the suspect, identified Wednesday afternoon by the Tarrant County Medical Examiner as 32-year-old Cody Loron, dead and Bell wounded.

(credit: Haltom City Police Department)

Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price said she’s encouraged by Bell’s prognosis. “I appreciate the prayers,” she said.  “I would ask that you continue to hold our officer and his family and the rest of the [police] force in your prayers and in your thoughts today.”

Price met with Bells’ wife at the hospital Tuesday night. The mayor said she was, “Obviously very shook up as we would expect, but we’re confident that he’s [Officer Bell] stable and gonna be okay. He’s in great care and his family’s being well taken care of too.”

Fort Worth City Councilman Joel Burns posted on his Facebook page Wednesday afternoon, “Just visited with the family, friends & fellow officers of our FWPD officer who was shot last night, as well as his partner (who was uninjured). Surgery starts shortly. Please keep him and his wife and family — and all of our Fort Worth Police officers — in your thoughts and prayers.”

Officer Bell has been with the Fort Worth Police Department since 1992 and is currently assigned to the Traffic Division as a motorcycle officer.

After a number of requests, a fund benefiting Officer Bell and his family has been set up by the Fort Worth Police Awards Foundation. Click here to make a tax deductible donation.

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