Via WLWT, Alison Montoya
FLORENCE, Ky. —The woman who was ambushed by her
estranged husband and shot in August was reunited with the first officer who
came to her aid.
In
August, Alisha Waters was gunned down at her Fort Thomas workplace and left
paralyzed. Her estranged husband then shot and killed himself.
Nearly
seven months later, she met the police officer who got to her first.
“Hi, how are you doing,” Lt. Rich Whitford, of the Fort Thomas Police Department,
asked her.
Whitford
then embraced Waters with a hug and said he had been waiting a long time to
meet her.
He
said he would never forget the day he made entry into the building to see
Waters lying on the ground, shot several times.
“It’s
nice to be able to put some closure to this, it was very traumatic for everyone
involved and what we went through is something that will stick with me
forever,” Whitford said.
Whitford
may have saved Waters’ life that day, as he told paramedics to enter the
building even though it wasn’t secure.
“When
I met them at the door, I said we’re not secure but I’ll keep you safe,”
Whitford said.
For
Waters, she said it was nice to finally thank the person she saw first and the
person who put his life on the line to save her.
“It
was very nice to see the man that saved my life, I mean without him I wouldn’t
be here today. I’m forever grateful for you,” Waters said.
Whitford
said Waters was strong, an angel and he couldn’t wait to see her walk again.
Waters said she was making progress and can move her hands and wiggle her toes.
She wants everyone to know how grateful she is too for the encouraging words,
support and prayers from here at home and from around the world.
Waters
also wanted to thank the Knights of Columbus for a shower chair and Rob
Marshall, of Dry Ridge Toyota, for trying to find her a converted van, so she
can get out of the house more. She said all the thoughtful gifts and kindness
has gone a long way as she rebuilds her life.
