DPS trooper wounded in 1988 shooting surprised with wheelchair, van

Former Central Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper Daniel Shown, who was gravely wounded in a shooting nearly 30 years ago, was surprised Tuesday with a new electric wheelchair and the promise of a specially-equipped van in which to get around.

"I was shocked the night that I got hurt, but I'm extremely shocked that my trooper friends have stood beside me all of these many, many years," Shown said Tuesday.

The chair Shown has been using was falling apart, so at the DPS Retiree Association’s Christmas luncheon Tuesday, members of the 100 Club Heart of Texas surprised the unsuspecting former trooper with the wheelchair.

The 100 Club has also located a van and with the help of the association is having it outfitted to accommodate Shown and the wheelchair.

"When we learned of Daniel's need, our board thought that was exactly in our mission and so we did what we could to make the chair possible,” the club’s executive director, Sandy Pechacek said.

The 100 Club Heart of Texas provides support to the surviving spouses and dependents of McLennan County law enforcement officers and firefighters who lose their lives in the line of duty.

Shown was shot in the center of his forehead eight days before Christmas in 1988 while assisting McLennan County deputies with a barricaded suspect on a rural road near West.

The 63-year-old man who shot him later told authorities he fired at a light.

Shown was holding a flashlight when he was shot.

The shooting left him blind in one eye with a partially paralyzed arm and leg.

He was medically retired from state service on Dec.16, 1988.

Over time he regained his ability to drive and was able to get around, but in 2005 he suffered injuries to the leg not left partially paralyzed by the shooting.

He underwent surgery, but developed an infection and was ultimately forced to use a wheelchair.

"I was just doing my job that night,” he said Tuesday.

“I am so blessed to receive this new chair, thank you all very much,” he said.

DPS spokesman Sgt. Ryan Howard also expressed his thanks Tuesday.

“I want to say thank you to what the 100 Club Heart of Texas has done today for trooper Daniel Shown…showing is your commitment to law enforcement.”