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Hundreds Donate Blood In Support Of Officers Shot In East Boston

DORCHESTER (CBS) -- The father of a wounded Boston police officer is thanking everyone who rolled up their sleeves at a blood drive in honor of his son and another officer shot during a domestic violence call in East Boston.

Steve Morris tells WBZ-TV his son officer Matthew Morris "is doing as well as can be expected."

Officer Morris is still in the intensive care unit after undergoing several surgeries. The blood drive was organized by the Boston Police Patrolman's Association.

"I think we all realize that those two officers wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for the blood transfusions they got the other night," said Police Commissioner William Evans. Police say Morris and Officer Richard Cintolo were fired upon without warning. Cintolo has been released from the hospital to continue his recovery at home.

Officer Michael Aziz was among some 300 officers who turned out to give blood as a way of giving back. He says this drive is more personal.

"It hits you right in the core. It could be anybody. We go out everyday and don't know what we're going to be faced with," said Aziz.

Officer Tim Gaughan says he had to come for his friends and brothers.

"It touches close to our hearts. Two officers were hurt in the line of duty. It makes you want to come out more and more," said Gaughan.

The Red Cross says 240 pints of blood were donated.

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