Payton Washington, one of the two Texas cheerleaders who were shot in April when her friend unintentionally opened the door of the incorrect vehicle, is finally sharing her story after the incident that left her in a critical state.
Washington stated, “I had a total of 32 staples. They had to remove a lobe from my pancreas. Additionally, my diaphragm had two holes in it, as did my stomach. Furthermore, my spleen was completely shattered.”
On Friday at 7 a.M. ET, Michael Strahan, co-anchor of “Good Morning America,” described a terrifying incident in an exclusive interview with Washington 18.
“I was actually texting and [consuming] Twizzlers,” Washington said of the moments before someone opened the door of her teammate’s car.
The HEB parking lot in Elgin, Texas is filled with cars.
One teammate, Heather Roth, mistakenly opened the door of a vehicle she believed to be hers, only to find a stranger, later identified by the police as Pedro Tello Rodriguez Jr., 25, sitting in the passenger seat.
Cheerleaders four were injured and Roth apologized when Rodriguez rolled down the window to apologize after opening fire on them multiple times.
Washington informed Strahan that she responded based on her intuition at that particular time.
She stated, “I swiftly pivoted with my blanket.” “I was unaware of its origin or any details, however, due to its deafening volume that caused my ears to buzz, I understood the need to spin around and take action.”
She realized she had been shot and noticed that she was having trouble breathing, Washington said. The cheerleaders drove off while shots continued to fire.
She expressed, “I could perceive the profound sorrow and intense fear that overwhelmed them.” “I made an effort to remain composed for the sake of the other individuals in the vehicle,” she disclosed. “Due to my diaphragm, it was quite challenging to take in air. I truly had to remind myself to inhale and exhale. Our objective was to escape.”
Washington stated, “And that’s when I experienced the expulsion of blood.” “Oh, I have an urge to vomit,” I exclaimed every time we stopped the vehicle and unlocked the door. However, due to the abundance of adrenaline, I was not fully aware of my location,” Washington expressed. “I observed blood on [the seat for passengers]. Hence, I deduced that I was bleeding from somewhere. Promptly, she realized that “something was amiss.”
As per court records, Rodriguez purportedly escaped from the location but was subsequently apprehended at his residence. Law enforcement stated that he has subsequently been accused of lethal behavior, a felony of the third degree. As stated by his legal representative, Rodriguez’s initial bail amount was established at $500,000 but was subsequently decreased to $100,000. Rodriguez is presently out on bail and has not yet entered a plea.
Washington was airlifted to a medical facility close to Austin in a severe state, whereas Roth, who was lightly wounded by a bullet, received medical attention for her wounds and was discharged at the location.
Through a series of lifesaving procedures, Washington underwent a treatment to treat the two bullets that struck her backside and left her abdomen.
However, she mentioned, “the most challenging aspect came after the surgical procedures.”
She now said that challenging yourself by getting up from bed or standing up is like simple things. Before the shooting at Washington, she had been accepted to Baylor University and was set to join the team for tumbling and acrobatics in the fall.
Washington stated, “Forget about all of this and engage in long jumps, keep track of your running, and perform a bunch of flips, which you were doing before last week. It’s truly strange that standing or walking is causing you pain… It was really difficult.”
However, she mentioned that she will not linger on the previous events.
She expressed, “the actions he took, with no consideration for my perspective, are not acceptable. I am aware of what he did and I will make an effort to understand it and move forward.”
Only a mere five weeks following the occurrence, Washington partook in her commencement ceremony alongside her companions. She conveyed her resolute intention to reclaim authority over her existence.
She expressed, “You have the capability to accomplish anything as long as you’re giving your utmost effort. Never question yourself because you genuinely have the ability to achieve anything if you exert effort and remain determined.”