A young Army veteran in Dallas reflected on the frightening moments when he was shot multiple times by a friend during the early morning hours of July 4.
The shooting happened at about 5:10 a.m. in the 4600 block of Cedar Springs Road, according to the Dallas Police Department.
Officers said after responding to a shooting call in the area, they found 24-year-old Andrew Alcantar suffering from several gunshot wounds. Alcantar was rushed to Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas and was considered to be in stable condition.
After further investigation, Dallas police said they identified 44-year-old John Edward Estrada and charged him with aggravated assault. He has since bonded out of jail. It's unclear if Estrada has obtained an attorney to speak on his behalf.
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Alcantar, who spoke with NBC 5's Meredith Yeomans from his room at Parkland, said he's grateful to be still able to breathe after being shot seven times.
“I just feel sore, and it’s kind of hard for me to breathe,” said Alcantar, who struggled to speak. “I got shot four times in my upper chest and back and three times in my leg."
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Alcantar said he was at a friend's apartment when the two returned after a night out. They somehow got into a confrontation, and things began to turn violent.
“He got super drunk that night, and, you know, it escalated very quickly,” said Alcantar.
According to the victim, they began physically fighting, and just when things seemed to settle down, Estrada grabbed a gun and started shooting.
“It was a scary moment, and honestly, I didn't think I was going to survive and come out of it,” said Alcantar candidly.
Alcantar's mother, Erika Guerrero, said she's barely left his side, and despite her son's injuries, she's not angry with the suspect.
“It was horrible. It was a parent’s worst nightmare,” said Guerrero. “I’d rather forgive him and give it to God and let God take care of that."
Alcantar stated that he had to undergo six surgeries since being hospitalized. Nearly a month after the shooting, Alcantar's father, Martin Guerrero, created a GoFundMe to raise funds for his son's medical bills and recovery.
"He fought his way and survived this horrible ordeal," Guerro stated on the campaign.
"He is only 24, a young adult that still has regular bills to pay, plus hospital bills. He was fully active in the military, and this long road to recovery just ended his military career. Therefore, my son is still in the hospital, and we don't know how long he will be there for."
Over the next year or so, Alcantar is expected to recover fully. His loved ones also mentioned that he will require further treatment at a rehabilitation center to complete his recovery.
