Chapter 4 - The Hospital Finds No Weapon
Surgeons removed the bullet.
It had entered high in my left shoulder and missed major vessels by less
than an inch.
I was lucky.
That word felt obscene.
Investigators inventoried my belongings.
Wallet.
Military identification.
Phone.
Keys.
A folded homecoming card from my mother.
No firearm.
No knife.
Nothing that matched Decker’s claim that I reached for a weapon.
Decker changed his wording.
He said he believed I was reaching for one.
That was different.
Perception would matter.
So would evidence.
Miller gave a formal statement.
He described my hands on the steering wheel.
He described me announcing the location of my wallet.
He described Decker ordering me not to move while simultaneously
demanding identification.
Then he disclosed something else.
Decker had turned off his body camera after the shot.
Miller’s camera had remained on.
The angle was partially blocked.
But the audio was clear.
My voice:
“My wallet is in my front jacket pocket.”
Then Decker:
“I said don’t move!”
Then the gunshot.
May you like
Then Miller:
“Jesus, Decker! She didn’t have anything!”
