Oct 4, 2007 11:42 am US/Eastern
Sniper Victim Tells How Life Has Changed
by Kathryn Brown
MARYLAND (WJZ) ―
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One sniper victim speaks out about life after being shot five times in the D.C. sniper shootings. (File)
CBS
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One sniper shooting after another took place in the D.C. area before John Allen Muhammed and Lee Boyd Malvo were caught, charged, and convicted of the sniper shootings. (File)
It's been five years since the sniper shooting terrorized the D.C. area. Now victims speak out about how it changed their lives.
Kathryn Brown reports people central to the investigation are talking about the wounds healed and the lessons learned.
Fear unlike any other. The fear that anyone could be shot and killed--anytime and anywhere.
"Everyone feared that they could be the next victim," said former Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan
The terror lasted three long weeks. One sniper shooting after another took place in the D.C. area before John Allen Muhammed and Lee Boyd Malvo were caught, charged and convicted of the sniper shootings.
"You know, it's hard to believe five years have gone by," said Paul La Ruffa.
Paul La Ruffa was the first victim. He was shot five times outside his Clinton, Md. restaurant.
Muhammed and Malvo stole money and a laptop they would later parlay into a killing spree blueprint.
Today, La Ruffa's scars remind him how lucky he is to be alive.
"I was shot five times, and I was really close to dying, and I'm happy every day I wake up, so life is good," said La Ruffa.
Former Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan was a central figure in the investigation. Five years later he says it often feels like it happened only days ago.
"I think about the victims and their families quite a bit," said Duncan.
For the families of victims who did not survive the shootings, like Conrad Johnson, time has only begun to heal deep wounds.
"I am Conrad's voice speaking from the grave, and they need to answer to them," said Johnson's mother.
"You know, if I was still angry I'd be miserable for the last five years. You can't let it get you down," said La Ruffa.
John Allen Muhammed is currently on death row in Virginia.
Lee Boyd Malvo is serving a life sentence.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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