When three San Diego police officers walked up Anthony Elliott’s driveway, they mentally prepared to deliver the awful news that their co-worker had been shot in the head, but before they could even ring the doorbell, Tony’s voice crackled through the speaker. It was December 2023 when Sgt. Elliott was chasing a suspect through a row of shopping carts at the front of a grocery store, when everything went black. The suspect turned around, pulled out a concealed weapon and fired, striking Elliott in the head. The bullet entered his skull, burrowing into his brain, but incredibly stopping just short of ending his life. Remarkably, Elliott never lost consciousness. While blood pooled onto the concrete beneath him, he had the presence of mind to give instructions to his squad: “Tell my kids Daddy’s going to be okay, tell my wife I love her. I want them to know I tried.” The EMTs rushed Elliott to the hospital. As he lay in the hospital bed, he wanted to tell his wife Laura what happened before his fellow officers got there. He tried calling, but her phone was off. With two babies at home, she was catching up on some sleep. His experience told him what would come next. “I knew they were going to come to my house and say I’d been shot in the head, but before they say ‘but he’s okay,’ she would already think I’m dead. I couldn’t let her feel that,” he said. So, he waited for the Ring camera to activate, and then did this:
In September 2024, Elliott returned to work, initially first in a desk role with the SWAT unit. Then, just one week ago, he stunned his department again as he was back on patrol. Elliott says he doesn't plan to stay forever — just long enough to prove he can. Then, he'll find a role that's safer for his family, because while his job matters, his family is everything.
