A Durham Police Officer who was shot in the line of duty is back at work.

Damon Youmans was shot in his lower abdomen just below his bullet proof vest in July while responding to a "disturbance with a weapon" call.

"I couldn't quite figure out where I was hit, but I knew I was hit somewhere," Youmans said.

For a guy who's been shot, Officer Youmans smiles an awful lot and said he is happy to be back at work.

"I've been told that I almost didn't make it," he said. "So to be here at this point right now, I'm really pleased. I'm happy."

It's been more than three months since the day the bullet hit him right under his bullet proof vest.

"Just being a cop, i figured it's just an occupational hazard," he said. "You know it's chance. It's just one of those things where that little few centimeters where it could squeak by, it just squeaked by."

Durham police have arrested Thomas Rashawn Monroe, 23, of 3300 Shannon Road, Apt. 5-A and charged him with assault on a law enforcement officer with a firearm.

The case is still under investigation.

When he was in the hospital, Youmans received more than 60 units of blood.

That's enough to fill five adults.

Now he is back at work on light duty.

Youmans credits his recovery to the support he received from the community.

"I think it's probably part of the reason I am up and about and recovering so quickly," he said of the support. "I just want to say thank you."

Youmans is still undergoing some physical therapy, but if you ask him whether the experience makes him want to quit he'll put that same smile on his face and say, "I'm just getting started."