A squeeze of the fingers was everything to the family of Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Scott Wood.

“It meant the world first of all to his wife because there is life in him. That represents hope,” said Wood’s pastor, Matt Purkey of Lenexa Christian Church. “The fact he is still fighting, obviously we believe God was watching out for him.”

Wood is battling for his life in an area hospital after he was shot seven times during an ambush early Wednesday morning. Wood was still in uniform but off duty at 1:15 a.m. when he stopped at the 7-Eleven in the 4400 block of of Shawnee Drive to grab a bite to eat.

Three men burst into the store. Police believe the suspects are responsible for a series of armed robberies at convenience stores that started Tuesday night and went into the early morning hours of Wednesday in both Kansas City, MO, and Kansas City, KS. Two men were taken into custody, but police continue to search for a third suspect.

“These men marched in there. It wasn’t a hostage situation,” Purkey said. “He wasn’t given a chance to beg for his life or go to his knees. They opened fire. That’s inhumane.”

Friends, colleagues and loved ones came together at the Wood family church Wednesday night to pray and hope for healing. Wood’s 15-year-old son was to be baptized at the church Wednesday night, but those plans are on hold.

Wood has responded to touches from loved ones, which is an encouraging sign.

“It’s very touch and go right now. The first 24 hours are extremely important. That is why they are praying extra hard for him,” his pastor said. “The fact that he is still alive some people would call that a medical marvel, a miracle. When you get shot that many times, most people are already planning their funeral, and here we are still holding out hope.”

Accused by prosecutors of  first-degree murder, burglary and two counts of theft, a Wyandotte County jury returned guilty verdicts for intentional second-degree murder and the other counts as charged against Darrell Lee Broxton on Tuesday. The jury found Broxton, 51, guilty of killing Peter Belmont in December of 2012.

Belmont was found beaten to death in his home near 115th and Leavenworth Road, an autopsy revealed that he had been dead for several days before he was found.

Police also said his minivan and other valuables were taken from the home before officers recovered the van and some of the missing property.

While a motive wasn’t revealed in a news release from the district attorney’s office, the release did say that jurors were presented evidence where Broxton was investigated for a similar 1996 homicide in Ocala, Florida. The jurors deliberated for about a day following a seven-day trial, and returned the guilty verdicts against the KC man after 5 p.m. on Tuesday.