Local mother survives two shootings and tells her story for the first time

CINCINNATI (WKRC) – A local shooting survivor is sharing her story in hopes it can save lives.

April Hancock survived two shootings, seven years apart.

On September 19, 2017, she was shot during a domestic dispute with her child's father, who then committed suicide at the scene. Her 2-year-old son was in the back seat of the car during the incident.

“I was shot nine times,” Hancock said. “Arm, chest, stomach, graze on the ear.”

Hancock said she is still recovering mentally, physically and emotionally from that traumatic event. But then, last month, her life was turned upside down again.

“I was sitting in my car. I just heard a fight break out, turned around, saw a lot of people fighting and at that moment I thought, 'I have to get out of here,'” Hancock said. “I looked to my right because I heard gunshots and immediately thought, 'Not again.'”

Prosecutors said Cincinnati firefighter Mack Ogletree shot April and another man outside the 629 Sports Bar in Colerain Township; she was an innocent bystander.

“I live every day with a bullet in my arm for no reason,” Hancock said.

Hancock was asked what she would say to the two people who shot her.

“Control your emotions,” Hancock said. “You have not only affected my life and the lives of everyone in my life, but now the lives of everyone in yours.”

She addressed the gun owners:

“Understand that you have power when you have these weapons. Use the power in the right way. If you don't, you will influence a lot of people.”

Despite these near-death experiences, Hancock focuses on raising her now nine-year-old son, Josyah.

“He's a great kid and the biggest blessing to me, the reason I get up every day,” Hancock said.

She finds peace under a tree near her job at the post office. She named it “Nyema's tree” after her friend who was shot in August.

Nyema had sat at Hancock's bedside during her month-long hospital stay seven years ago.

“Some people in my seat would feel defeated; some people would feel like they couldn't get up; some people would feel like it was the end of the world, but I for one feel undefeated,” Hancock said. “At this point, you have to keep going.”

Hancock said she founded a nonprofit called The Loop, which stands for Loss of Our Parents. The group helps children cope with the loss of a parent, something her son needed after losing his father seven years ago.