CLEVELAND — Two of the nine mass shooting survivors are recovering at home but out of work.
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Sierra Maben said she was shot in both her calves on W. 6th Street in the Warehouse District last Sunday.
She’s using crutches to get around and said she can’t move her left ankle.
She said she remembers leaving a nightclub on W. 6th Street with her cousin and running into a group of friends.
“Somebody from the group turned around and said like 'hello' to me, and I said 'hi' back, and that’s when the shooting started,” Maben said.
Maben said she felt a warm sensation on her leg and then realized both calves were hit.
“It’s always sort of been in my mind it was a possibility that I could get shot because what I was taught growing up, what I saw growing up, I feel like, I don’t know to be honest, I got caught up in some stuff that didn’t really have anything to do with me,” Maben said.
Chris Tevis was on W. 6th Street with friends.
“Man, I never expected to be a victim of anything. To be honest, you know what I mean? I always expected myself somebody who stays out the way, makes sure I was straight,” Tevis said.
Tevis said he was about to grab some food after leaving a club.
“Literally, while we were talking about what we were going to eat, I heard a couple of bangs after the second one I was on the ground,” Tevis said.
He said a bullet traveled from his right shin to his foot. He is doing better now and is able to put pressure on his leg and walk.
He said his mindset hasn’t changed.
“Same, like why, honestly like, why did I have to get shot? Why did I have to get shot? I didn’t do nothing to nobody. I don’t have no problems with nobody. I don’t know the dude who did it,” Tevis said.
He’s a barber and a rapper.
“This didn’t happen from one of my own decisions or something I was into like that, so like me not being able to live my daily life and stuff like that and provide for my family, it’s mentally bearing,” Tevis said.
He’s a father of three little girls, ages seven, five and two.
Tevis said they don’t understand gun violence. They only know "Daddy’s hurt."
“Thinking about them going out into this same world,” Tevis said.
Maben said she has never thought more about her birthday than in the last seven days.
“I've been seeing 14, 7/14 in everything; that’s what’s keeping me even more positive," Maben said.
Maben just celebrated her 24th birthday last Friday.
She’s a communications major at Wright State University, set to graduate in December.
“I’m still like processing everything. I’m not sure of my exact feelings,” Maben said.
She said she’s doing okay right now and is surrounded by loved ones who are helping her with comfort and medications.
“I can’t go back. I can’t go back into the club and wait a little longer before I left. I can’t do any of that stuff; all I can do is move forward and focus on what is actually happening now, which is me getting a lot of love and stuff,” Maben said.
Both will see their doctors again this week.
Maben shared with News 5 her GoFundMe account she set up to help with her expenses.
Click here for more information on the fundraiser.
