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An Irving teen recently survived what could have been a fatal gunshot wound.
Two weeks ago during a robbery at his home, Demo Ducking, a sophomore and Irving Nimitz High School running back, was shot in the face.
His mother's boyfriend died in that shooting, and despite his injuries and the tragic circumstances, he's grateful.
Surrounded by cards and balloons at home, Ducking says the community is showing support like he’s on the field.
“It’s not what I expected,” he said. “I didn't think this would happen to me and my family.”
Irving Police say 45-year-old Maurice Crawford, the boyfriend of Ducking's mom, was sitting in his car in the driveway of the family's house, smoking a cigarette.
That’s when two teens, a 16-year-old and a 17-year-old, walked up to steal Crawford’s car.
The arrest affidavit says the teens and Crawford got into physical altercation.
“My little brother was like, ‘Maurice is getting jumped!’ so automatically, I ran outside and I saw him laying on the ground and they were like, ‘Shoot! Shoot! Shoot!’” said Ducking. “So they shot him and the guy with the gun was running towards me, and pretty much, I was begging for my life.”
Police say 17-year-old Miguel Martinez then shot and killed Crawford, then shot Ducking in the face.
“[The bullet] traveled through my nose and it went down to my neck, and from my neck it went to my shoulder blade,” said Ducking.
Police say Ducking stayed conscious and helped identify the attackers, leading to their arrests.
“I actually grew up with them,” said Ducking.
“We never thought a friend would do something like that to us,” said Ducking’s sister, Destinee.
Doctors told the family it’s a miracle that Ducking isn't paralyzed or dead.
“It missed his brain,” said Destinee. “God knew what he was doing.”
As to how the bullet mysteriously changed directions, they say look no further than above.
“I just think it wasn't my time,” said Ducking.
For now, Ducking is on the sidelines, but his family says for their star running back, the goal is simple.
“I get to see my baby brother run the ball again and be like, ‘That's my brother!’” said Destinee.