JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A bullet from a dangerous gunman has forever changed the life of a woman who worked at a mall kiosk trying to support her family. She screamed out in terror as a bullet struck her arm. In an Action News Exclusive, we hear what happened in her own words.
"I have a lot of pain and swelling too much," said shooting victim Manisa Sapkota.
Riddled with pain, Manisa Sapkota can barely talk. In a hospital gown and her patient ID still wrapped on her wrist, she is now at home with her family recovering after a bullet hit her shoulder. Exclusive video obtained by Action News shows a shopper running to help Manisa just moments after gunfire rang out at the Regency Square Mall.
"I don't remember, I just, I lay down, I don't know and a lot of bleeding over there, I don't know," said Manisa.
Manisa was working at the family kiosk when she heard gunshots. Her husband, Sujan, was at home watching their two kids at the time. He rushed to the scene only to find the mall on lockdown. Police are still looking for three men they believe opened fire near the food court. As a family business, Sujan says he now worries about their safety when working at the mall.
"Some people are bad people and some are good people. Malls need to watch them and put some kind of detective so they can detect the weapon before they can enter the bad people in the mall," said Sujan.
With the bullet still in Manisa's shoulder, Sujan is thankful that his wife's injuries were not worse.
"That's the thing I want to say to the God is thanks. She's OK today. She's with me you know, alive. If something happened to her it would be a very big problem.
Doctors told Manisa that surgically removing the bullet is not necessary. Sujan, however, wants his wife to get the bullet removed because he worries it could cause long term damage. The family has no health insurance to pay for the surgery.
