CHEROKEE COUNTY, Ga. — A Cartersville man is sharing his story after getting shot by a stranger on Father's Day.
The shooting happened at a campground on Lake Allatoona. Maurice Winsell said he was shot three times in the stomach and has had to undergo several surgeries.
"Before everything happened was amazing. Melissa and I went to the lake! We were enjoying some good times being silly making some silly videos, taking pictures. I was getting in the water, there's a lot of families there. It was all really good vibes, and unfortunately, this tragic incident has changed a lot of that," Winsell said from his hospital bed.
The 39-year-old and his fiancé have been at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital since the shooting. The actor and veteran said he barely remembers what happened but vividly remembers the pain he felt when he was shot.
"I remember the pain of being shot multiple times, and I do remember that the people that, you know, first responded on me and were trying to put pressure points. I was just scared because I thought I was probably still being attacked," Winsell said.
Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Deputies said the man who shot him is a convicted felon who shouldn't have had a gun. When they responded to the Sweetwater Day Use area just after 6 p.m., they didn't initially find a shooter.
"I didn't know he was gonna be a threat. I don't think I knew that at all. I do remember when I felt the pain, and I do remember seeing him," Winsell said.
Deputies said an altercation between Maurice and a 42-year-old man led to the shooting, but the two didn't know each other. When witnesses gave deputies a description of the man they saw and the vehicle he left in, they found him on the highway headed towards Bartow County with the gun he allegedly used in his car.
The 42-year-old is now charged with aggravated assault and battery, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
"I continue to process it for sure. I can still feel the fear of that moment, but I'm focused on my recovery now and healing," Winsell said.
While the alleged shooter sits behind bars, Maurice and his fiancé Melissa are praying for a quick recovery -- one that will help them get down the aisle together one day in the future.
"I have to remind myself I'm not gonna let him take my life, take my ability to have faith in people, my surroundings. I wanna be able to walk out here and be normal again, not scared because of maybe a gunshot sound in the background," Winsell said. "I can't wait to marry Melissa. If anything, this taught me, don't delay stuff. Live. Live it hard because it can, it can go quickly, and I got a taste of that," Winsell said.
Doctors said his recovery will be slow, and there's no telling when Maurice will be discharged. He and his family want to thank everyone for the support they've received so far. They do have a fundraiser to support them while they're both out of work. If you'd like to donate, you can here.
Overall, Maurice said they're trusting investigators as they look into what happened. 11Alive checked in with the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office to ask what led up to the shooting. The deputies said they're still working to piece everything together and hope to get more clarity now that Maurice isn't intubated anymore. The suspect who shot him is being held without bond.