ATHENS, Ga. — The lone survivor of a deadly triple shooting in downtown Athens says he is grateful to be alive and hopes his story can help others facing trauma.
In an exclusive interview with Channel 2’s Michael Seiden on Channel 2 Action News at 6:00 p.m., 20-year-old Landon Skinner spoke publicly for the first time since the March shooting that left two people dead and him critically injured.
Skinner was shot in the face and spent nearly two weeks at Grady Memorial Hospital. Doctors were forced to remove his left eye and portions of his skull. A bullet remains lodged in his brain.
“Thank God so much for how fast I’m getting through this, how strong I’m staying and how much I’m healing,” Skinner said.
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He said he continues to struggle emotionally in the aftermath.
“There’s so much survivor’s guilt inside of me even though none of this is my fault,” he said.
Athens-Clarke County police said the shooting happened in a parking lot in the 400 block of North Jackson Street. Investigators said gunfire erupted while Skinner was with friends, killing 22-year-old Clayton Adams and 19-year-old Dylan Bentley.
Police have charged Skinner’s former best friend, 22-year-old Mark DeSousa, with murder, accusing him of shooting all three men.
Skinner told Seiden he has no memory of what happened that night. When asked if he had a message for DeSousa, he said he just wants answers.
“I’m so sorry for Clayton and Dylan’s family,” Skinner said. “I’ll always be there for them and always pray for them.”
Since the shooting, Skinner said he has been overwhelmed by support from friends, family and even strangers.
“Thank you guys so much,” he said. “I really appreciate all of you, all the prayers, all the money — everything goes straight to my heart.”
Skinner is now recovering at home with his mother, Shanna Roe, who has been by his side throughout his recovery.
“I’m so thankful, so grateful. We kept praying and believing he was going to make it through,” Roe said. “I’m blessed to have him still here. I could have lost Landon.”
She said the family continues to pray for everyone affected by the shooting.
“I’m just so thankful I still get to hold my baby,” she said.
Skinner is preparing to receive a prosthetic eye as part of his recovery. He said surviving the shooting has given him a renewed sense of purpose — especially as a father to his 2-year-old son.
But the road ahead remains difficult.
Skinner still has a bullet lodged in his brain, is missing part of his skull and has lost his left eye. He said those injuries have also changed everyday moments with his son.
“He always sleeps with me, falls asleep on me. And now he can’t sleep in the bed with me because I’m missing so much of my skull,” Skinner said.
Despite the physical challenges, Skinner said the emotional toll has been just as difficult as he continues to heal.
If you would like to help the family with medical expenses, you can donate to their GoFundMe.
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