DUNCANVILLE, Texas — A Duncanville man is out of the ICU after being shot twice by suspects who followed him home from a bank after he cashed a check. The shooting happened around 5:15 p.m. Nov. 17, according to police.
The victim, Sebastian Avila, has an injured liver and needed part of his lung removed as a result of the gunshot wounds.
"I knew basically I was dying," Avila told WFAA upon his return home. "Like, I could feel it, minute by minute."
Avila said after he was shot, he tried to get up to check on his wife and 2-month-old son, who were in the house, but couldn't.
"You get to a point where you’re choking on your blood and everything and… nothing makes sense anymore."
The two masked men shot him so bad he was in critical condition.
"And it was like $120 something in my pocket," he said. "He almost killed me for 120 bucks."
Avila told WFAA he took that money out to help pay the bills. He's a proud man who works in construction to support his family.
"[I] work, work hours, spend everything just to keep up the best possible for our family," he said.
He’s worried now, with as hurt as he is, he might not make enough to support his son the way he’s dreamed to.
"So many things… that... I had in my mind planned for him and everything," he cried.
Duncanville Police Detective Chad Berger worked on Avila's case.
"Yeah, this was a pretty tough one," he said.
Duncanville detectives say they quickly identified two of the three suspects: 21-year-old Terrance Lanard Lowe Jr. and 21-year-old James Lee Wagner. The department located and arrested Terrance Lanard Lowe Jr. on Nov. 22. James Lee Wagner and the third unidentified subject remain at-large.
"It’s a concern they may escalate more so in the future. Our victim survived he’s out of the hospital, but the next victim may not be as lucky," said Berger.
"And it could be a mom, a dad, a grandpa," Avila said.
Duncanville Police are actively working to develop additional information and the identity of the third suspect in this incident. We are asking anyone with information regarding this incident, the identity of the third suspect or Wagner’s whereabouts to contact the Duncanville Police Department at 972-707-3831.
Meanwhile, Avila's cousin created a GoFundMe to help with expenses until he's able to return to work. You can visit it here.
Duncanville Police also shared this educational video on jugging, including steps to take to protect yourself.