CATS Bus Shooting Victim Describes Incident

CHARLOTTE, NC — “I’m glad he shot me in my foot, this foot can easily be healed my life couldn’t,” said the victim who did not want to be identified.

The 22-year-old shooting victim says he rode the bus before with 18 year old Rodney Smith and wasn’t too concerned until Smith approached him, and told him to get off the bus. He said no, and Smith pulled a gun.

“When I saw him pull the gun, I hopped on the ground and put my foot up,” said the victim.

That’s when he says Smith shot him.

“Were people on the bus screaming?” “Yeah it happened so fast, it happened fast, the lady on the bus was like I knew he was going to do something like that, she seen the whole thing was standing right there, glad she didn’t get hit, and nobody else got hurt,” said the victim.

CMPD Chief Kerr Putney says Smith got off the bus and ran, someone called 9-1-1 with a description of the teen, and when police arrived Putney says they identified Smith and gave him verbal commands.

“At least two of our officers percieved an imminent threat, an imminent lethal threat, and they shot the suspect who was armed,” said CMPD Chief Kerr Putney.

Officers Michael Bell and Garrett Tryon recovered Smith’s gun at the scene.

The 22 year old says they both ran with a tough crowd, and this is a wake up call.

“All this is like a blessing, keeping me blessed just got to figure out what I got to do what God want me here for,” said the victim.

CMPD says it’s standard procedure in any officer involved shooting for the officers to be put on Paid Administration Leave during the ongoing investigation.