“I was struck by gunfire while (bike) riding home from work…You were there for me until the EMTs took me away. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for helping me.”

“Dear PoPville and the MBT Community,

On July 28th, around 5:30 p.m., I was struck by gunfire while riding home from work on the 8th Street NE section of the bike trail (the section of protected bike lanes across from the Dew Drop Inn.) I was riding fast, trying to beat the storm and deciding whether to stop at Trader Joe’s to pick up some vegetables when I heard gunshots. They were all around me. Moments later, I was lying on the street, trying to make sense of what had happened and bleeding.

Then, all of you showed up.

I can’t thank you all enough. You asked all the right questions,

called 911, bandaged and applied pressure to my wounds using the clothes from my bag, texted my wife, secured my belongings and bike, and calmed me down with your reassuring words. You were there for me until the EMTs took me away. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for helping me.

I’ve been riding a bike for a long time. Because of your actions and the incredible surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, and technicians at MedStar, I will continue to do so.

So, if you see me on the same trail in a few months, riding to work on my big green bike, please stop and tell me your name so I can thank you again. I appreciate you all for being wonderful humans. I’ll pay it forward. I promise.”