I am the survivor of an intense two year stalking and harassment situation that culminated with attempted murder. I was living in New York City at the time (2006). The perpetrator was a woman who had been evicted from a property I managed. She tried suing my business partners and myself, claiming a number of accusations of a sexual nature, most against the three women who were part of the business–none of them true.
She shot me at point blank range with a .380 caliber automatic with copper jacketed bullets. She started from 10 feet away and plugged me as she walked towards me. After the shooting, she stepped over my body and fled. I was fully conscious of everything that was going on around me.
Eight years later she began stalking and harassing me, trying to ruin my reputation as director of cultural events in the City. Because she was not getting the results she wanted, I believe, she decided to take my life. This is what lead to the events that took place on the evening of May 29, 2006, when I walked into six bullets on the steps to my home.
When an officer arrived moments later, I gave him her name, age, and what she was wearing. I knew my life was very touch and go at that point. One bullet had hit me in the external jugular vein of my neck, a fraction of an inch away from my carotid artery. Another hit me in the stomach, which should have killed me. I have a 5-inch scar on my belly where surgeons cut me open. Two bullets hit my left arm, and another my right leg.
When I became conscious after surgery, they wheeled me into ICU. A friend of mine sneaked into the room with the front page of New York Daily News, and the headline read, “Dippy Hippy Bang Bang”. Part of the victimization of these situations is also, unfortunately, the media.
Fox TV’s, America’s Most Wanted, featured my story on three separate occasions. The perpetrator was caught 13 months later with an AK-47 and “enough ammunition to join the Taliban,” according to the Philadelphia Chief of Police.
Thirteen months after that, there was a trial, and she was acquitted. The evidence of the stalking and harassment wasn’t allowed by the judge, without explanation. She had numerous fake id’s, and pictures of me on her computer, along with photos of the type of gun used to shoot me. None of this was allowed in the trial.
I have purposely omitted her name, for one, because she is obviously dangerous, and two, because you never know what is going to set someone off. As far as where she is now, I have a civil suit against her, and I know she was served at her mother’s house. I could choose to live in fear, but I don’t. The key to survival in the aftermath of a violent crime is to empower yourself, and this is an ongoing battle I face with every passing day.
Story by Jeff Gross, as told by Eric J. Leech
Jeff is a community activist and entrepreneur who is currently pitching the reality Television series, Journey to Survival, chronicling the lives of crime victims.
About Dr. Eric J. Leech
Eric has written for over a decade. Then one day he created Urbasm.com, a site for every guy.
About Dr. Eric J. Leech