Bricktown Shooting Victim Speaks, Promotes Blood Drive In Del City

It has been more than two months since Norman Richards II, who friends and family call Michael, was lying in a hospital bed in the ICU.

Friday, July 27th 2012, 3:16 pm

By: News 9

Bricktown Shooting Victim Speaks, Promotes Blood Drive In Del City

It has been more than two months since Norman Richards II, who friends and family call Michael, was lying in a hospital bed in the ICU.

He was one of eight people shot on Monday May 21 in the middle of Bricktown, shortly after the Thunder's playoff victory against the San Antonio Spurs.

Richards was with friends watching the game on the big screen down in Thunder Alley outside the Chesapeake Arena. They were on their way back to their car when they heard gunshots and started running.

"I can remember running and then telling my friend, ‘I think I got shot,'" said Richards, who sustained a bullet wound in his back. "The next thing I remember was waking up in a hospital bed a week later wondering what happened."

Richards was one of the random victims in a shooting that left several injured, and the entire city on high alert. One teenager, 16-year-old Avery Myers, has been arrested in connection with the shooting. He is scheduled to go before a judge for his preliminary hearing next week.

Richards spent nearly three weeks in ICU, another week in a regular hospital bed recovering, and an additional 10 days in rehab. He says the bullet that hit him went into his back, through his kidneys, and pierced his heart twice. His father says he stopped breathing twice during surgery. The young baseball standout feels lucky to be alive.

Now he wants to thank all those who prayed for him and donated blood while he was in the hospital. He is also encouraging others to donate blood.

"It truly saved my life," Richards said.

Richards plans to be at a blood drive Friday, July 27 to thank donors. It will be held from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Del City Church of Christ located at 1901 Vickie Drive in Del City.

News 9's Adrianna Iwasinski will have more on Richards' road to recovery on News 9 at 6.