Benita Clausell and her two children came from Montgomery to Mobile to celebrate Mardi Gras earlier in March.
Clausell is a retired educator and her two children are, Bradley, 18, and Brittany, 20.
Both young adults have a disability as Bradley is autistic and Brittany is legally blind.
However, an act of gun violence would derail the family’s trip completely.
On March 7, Clausell and Bradley were both shot by a gunman on Cecelia Street who was perched atop a roof across the road with an AK-47.
Traci Preyer, Clausell’s cousin, spoke to AL.com about the shooting and how the family is recovering.
“Bradley went to the door to ring the doorbell to go into their mom’s house, and he was shot first, and he fell to the ground,” Preyer said.
“And of course, Benita, she was trying to go and help him, and she was shot.”
Bradley was shot in the back and Clausell suffered a gunshot wound to the pelvic area.
Brittany was also there but was shielded by Clausell even after her mother was shot.
The suspect was identified as Dashon Mosley, 21, and court records corroborate that he was in possession of an AK-47.
Preyer said that after the shooting instead of running, Mosley went to Clausell and reportedly apologized because he intended to shoot someone else.
Mosley was arrested early Saturday morning following the shooting and taken to jail. But Preyer said that Clausell has forgiven Mosley for the shooting.
“She couldn’t believe it. Didn’t know the person, and she said, ‘I forgive him. I told him, I’m not mad at you’,” Preyer said.
“And that’s a lot to be lying on the ground, literally fighting for your life right, to be able to tell somebody that. But she believes in God, totally, in the power of God.”
Bradley and his mother are still recovering but as of Friday Clausell has been released from the hospital.
Preyer said her cousin will have to learn how to walk again.
Bradley is still in the intensive care unit on a ventilator and Preyer said that she told him she was grateful he was still alive. According to Preyer, Bradley responded saying he was, “grateful too.”
A GoFundMe has been set up to assist with medical expenses associated with helping Clausell’s family recover.
