An Aurora police officer who was stabbed in the head during a shooting in early April remains in the hospital about two weeks later, the department said Tuesday.

Mark Moore, who joined the department in 2012 and was assigned to the K-9 Unit in 2019, sustained life-threatening injuries during the altercation in which he shot and killed 23-year-old Amare Garlington on April 9, the Aurora Police Department said in a news release.

Garlington, who allegedly attacked Moore as well as his K-9, Cyrus, with the knife before he was fatally shot, had a history of legal and mental health issues, family members told The Denver Gazette.

“This is a terrible and tragic situation for everyone involved, including our officer, his family, our department and this community, as well as the young man who lost his life and his family,” Police Chief Todd Chamberlain said in the release. “What we are facing in Colorado and across the nation is not a growing concern, but a full-scale mental health crisis. If we want different outcomes, we need sustainable mental health infrastructure and long-term care, not just short-term contact.”

Aurora officers responded to an apartment complex in the 14000 block of East Stanford Circle around 3:15 p.m. that day, following a 911 call that Garlington was experiencing a mental health crisis and was threatening to harm himself and others in the home, according to the release.

After officers tried to talk to Garlington and solve the situation peacefully, they said, the man ran “full speed” at them with what authorities dubbed a “butcher knife,” according to the release. He then stabbed the K-9 before striking Moore in the head.

Other officers fired less-lethal tools — such as tasers and 40mm launchers with foam projectiles — to try and subdue Garlington, but they had no effect, authorities said. Moore then shot Garlington several times, and they both collapsed to the ground.

Garlington was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said. Moore was also hospitalized with critical injuries and remains in that care about two weeks later. Cyrus the K-9 received emergency veterinary treatment that night and is expected to make a full recovery.

“Mark is a dedicated and dependable officer who has served the Aurora community with distinction for more than a decade,” Chamberlain said. “While his road to recovery remains uncertain, we are grateful he has made some progress. We continue to think of Mark and his family during this time, and we look forward to welcoming him back to the department.”

The incident is being investigated by the 18th Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team, and the Aurora Police Department is conducting an administrative review, according to the release. Moore has yet to be interviewed in the investigation due to the severity of his injuries.

Denver Gazette reporters Kyla Pearce and Matt Kyle contributed to this report.