Stratford Shooting Victim Making A Full Recovery

STRATFORD, CT — Regi Woodard, who was shot and critically injured during a robbery at BAR in the Stratford Center in November, is making an amazingly full recovery and expects to be back on the job soon, according to News12 Connecticut.

News12 reports doctors didn’t think Woodard would survive the night after he was shot, but he will be celebrating his 49th birthday on Tuesday. Woodard underwent five surgeries and lost his kidney on the road to recovering from the shooting.

Woodard, who was overwhelmed by the support he received (including a GoFundMe campaign that raised more than $16,000), reunited Monday with members of the Stratford EMS crew that helped save his life on the night he was shot.

On Nov. 14, 2017 Paramedic Alexander Hawkins, Paramedic Supervisors Timothy Yurksaitis and Erin Smith, EMTs John Toomey and David Dressler, along with Stratford Fire Department first responders and Stratford Police responded to the scene of the shooting.

“The injuries sustained in this shooting were extremely life threatening and required multiple surgeries over the weeks following the shooting,” Stratford EMS officials said in a press release. “Not only was the patient’s life in jeopardy, there was a risk of the patient being unable to walk ever again. Today, we had the honor of a visit from the shooting victim who WALKED into our headquarters looking (and feeling) amazing.

“In emergency services we very infrequently get to see our patients again, and even less frequently get the opportunity to celebrate with a patient in their full recovery from a devastating event. Thank you to Regi Woodard for coming to visit us and share his triumphant recovery with the responders that worked so very hard to save his life. We are so blessed to have shared some time with you. You are the reason we do what we do. And thank you for allowing us to share your story with the public.”

Stratford Police have arrested two men in connection to the shooting. Jachim Brown, 30, of Bridgeport, is accused of shooting Woodard during the robbery and police say Eric Chambers, 33, of Bridgeport, was the getaway driver.

Read the full News12 Connecticut story here.

Photo courtesy of Stratford EMS