Bystander injured in deadly shooting, “I wish that he was still alive too”

The innocent bystander caught in the crossfire of Monday’s shootout spoke on camera for the first time on Thursday.

Thomas Villanueva was shot through the chest and may never walk again.

Hooked up to machines and with his wounds still in bandages, Villanueva spoke to reporters in his hospital room about what happened that night a stolen car investigation turned deadly.

Villanueva said he was walking home from getting food, and then he remembers seeing two groups of people standing across from each other in his apartment complex parking lot.

He blacked out briefly, and when he came to, he saw the groups were fighting over a gun.

Villanueva rushed to get away, but when he tried to move his right leg, he fell over. That’s when he realized something was wrong. But he says even if he can’t walk again, he feels lucky to be alive.

“I feel bad for everybody that got shot. I feel bad for that officer that died too. I wish I wasn’t there. I wish they weren’t there either, you know what I mean? I’m just glad that I have my life still, and I wish other people that were there, that officer that died. I don’t know. I didn’t know him, but I wish that he was still alive too,” said Villanueva fighting back tears.

Deputy Micah Flick was fatally shot by Manuel Zetina at the Murray Hill Apartments on Monday. Deputy Scott Stone, Sergeant Jake Abendshan, and Officer Marcus Yanez were wounded and taken to Memorial. All are in recovery and doing well.

Villaneuva’s roommates have started a GoFundMe account to raise money for his medical bills.

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