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Woman hit by bullets at Greyhound station: Trooper was right in front of me

Posted at 8:35 PM, Apr 01, 2016
and last updated 2016-04-01 21:03:00-04

RICHMOND, Va. -- A North Carolina mother shot three times when a gunman opened fire on a Virginia State Police trooper at the Greyhound bus station in Richmond Thursday said she feels blessed to be alive.

Dominique Campbell said she witnessed the unimaginable at the terminal.

"Being there is a total different experience," said Campbell, who spoke exclusively with WTVR CBS 6 reporter Sandra Jones about the horrible experience.

She said when she first heard a pop she did not realize what was happening.

"It didn't register to maybe five seconds later. That's a gun shot," she said.

Dominique Campbell

Dominique Campbell

While she was waiting at the bus station, the 41-year-old witnessed a hail of gun fire.

"[I] didn't realize I was hit. I was shot already," she said.

Campbell was one of the two surviving victims in the deadly shootout between a suspect with a lengthy criminal history and a state trooper.

"The police officer was right in front of me," she said.

Campbell said she was sitting next where Trooper Chad Dermyer was standing when he was shot.

"I... just to touch him. I was close enough to him. I was just, 'It's OK,'" she said she told herself at the time trying to cope with the tragedy.

Campbell suffered from three gunshot wounds to her legs. One of the bullets went through her left calf and the two others punctured her left leg and struck the bone.

"For me to have been shot in the leg where I was, I am totally blessed. It should've got me up here," she said pointing to her upper body.

While Campbell is thankful to be alive, she is devastated Trooper Chad Dermyer did not survive.

"Eventually, I know it's going to hit me, but since I've been here, they help me to kind of forget," Campbell said tearing up.

"He was doing his job, taking care of his family, living his life like we all should be able to, and not have to worry," she said. "And they're in my prayers."

Campbell said God spared her life for a reason. She said she will pray for Dermyer's family and hopes to meet them one day.

Dominique Campbell

Dominique Campbell

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