Christopher Mark Heben, an ex-Navy SEAL, was reportedly shot in the stomach but was able to chase his assailants before he drove to get treatment for his wound.
Heben was shot and wounded near Akron, Ohio, according to local reports this week. The incident took place last Friday.
Police said that the suspects shot him broad daylight and then fled in a vehicle, reported NewsNet5.
In the incident, Heben, 44, was nearly hit by a car while backing up in the parking lot, and occupants inside the car started yelling at him. After that, he went inside a store and came out, and one of the occupants of the vehicle fired shots at him.
“He indicated to us he actually plugged the hole in his abdomen to stop the bleeding as he drove to the station,” said Bath Township Police Chief Mike McNeely, according to the broadcaster.
According to the Akron Beacon Journal, Heben chased the suspects to find a license plate number. He was treated by Bath fire personnel and was later taken to Akron General Hospital.
The Journal quoted McNeeley as saying “he followed the vehicle carrying the shooting suspect but began to feel ill and drove himself to the Bath Township Police and Fire Department to seek treatment.”
Heben posted a photo of himself on Facebook on Tuesday.
“Just wanted to say a quick and heart felt THANK YOU, to everyone for all the prayers and well wishes. I’m feeling a bit better today,” he wrote, showing him recovering in a hospital bed. “Finally got that damn tube outta my nose....It was the worst part so far. Well, that, and the fact that they catheterized me when I was still conscious. Ouch!” he also wrote a day earlier.
Of the support he’s received, he added: “It definitely keeps me going! I’ve been up walking around, yesterday and again this morning. The nurses are telling me to ‘take it slow’.....YEAH RIGHT! Had the NG tube taken out at 10 p.m. last night, felt like a new man and actually got 3 hours of sleep last night. I’m gonna take this dressing off in a bit. I’ll post a few more pics soon. I’m good to go!”
He said the suspects’ vehicle is a low-profile sports car painted gray with a raised spoiler, a performance muffler, as well as black rims and a black tint on the side and rear windows.
