December 7, 2012

Our very own reporter, Erika Lathon was shot Thursday night while taking money out of an ATM.
   
Thankfully Erika is recovering and she's sharing her story.

"This could happen anywhere, anytime, to anyone," says Erika Lathon.

With a sling over her left arm, our colleague, Erika Lathon, describes frightening moments.

"That's when the person just appears," says Lathon.

It was almost midnight when Erika pulled up to the Bank of America ATM on Church Street and 17th Avenue.
   
She had just finished her transaction when a masked man came to her door.

"He literally just used the machine as cover, came right around the side of the ATM and he was there, you know, with a gun in my face, give me the money," says Lathon.

Erika says she was panicked, and by instinct she hit the gas.

"The sequence of events was 1, 2, 3, seconds.  It was give me the money, bam, pop," says Lathon.

After hitting the accelerator, her car spun out. The man reappeared at her window and Erika handed him $100 in cash.
   
As the robber jogged away, she initially started to follow him in her car.

"And that's when I felt back here on my arm, and I looked, and my hand was covered in blood," says Lathon.
   
 Somehow, despite being shot, Erika drove herself to the nearby Baptist Hospital emergency room.
   
That's where doctors confirmed by x-ray that a bullet had entered her arm and lodged in her chest.

"There's no reason why, being shot at that close range, I should be here," says Lathon.

Friday, Erika visited her co-workers at FOX 17 News.
   
Flowers have been delivered, and she has received countless messages and emails.
   
We're all glad to hear her recovery is going well.

"It just feels like somebody really just hit me in the arm with a two by four or something," says Lathon.
     
Erika says she feels blessed. She believes God spared her life Thursday night, in the midst of a terrifying ordeal.

"I'm just glad to be here to tell the story and, you know, that I survived this, and that my family didn't have to get another phone call," says Lathon.

 Police are still looking for the man who robbed Erika.
   
They say he was dressed in black and wearing a mask.
   
Meanwhile, Erika wants to thank everyone who has wished her well.

For news updates follow John Dunn on twitter @WZTVJohnDunn