New lease on life
Forced to reconsider plans to join the Navy, victim of shooting at tire shop remains optimistic
By Carissa Marsh Special to the Acorn

WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers 'BROS'- Albert Ramirez, in wheelchair, hangs out with longtime friend Kyle Newiger of Simi Valley while the two wait for the music to begin Saturday during a benefit concert in Ramirez's honor held at Skatelab. Ramirez was critically injured in the Oct. 9 shooting at Tire Pros. Local acts LPS, Pulley and April's Motel Room all performed to help raise money for the 20-year-old who is still undergoing physical therapy at Northridge Medical Center. It was his first public appearance since the shooting.

Less than a mile from where the Tire Pros shooting took place last month, Albert Ramirez sits in a wheelchair mingling with friends and family outside Simi Valley's Skatelab.

It's a sunny Saturday and the 20-year-old Moorpark resident is anxiously anticipating the start of the concert that's been put together on his behalf.

Ramirez, who's wearing a black baseball cap, a thankful smile and a positive spirit, is out of the hospital for the first time since the shooting, but the only evidence of the suffering he's endured since his neardeath experience is his twowheeled transportation.

WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers RHYMING FOR A REASON- Local hip-hip act LPS puts on a show for the crowd at Skatelab during Albert Ramirez's benefit concert last Saturday.

On Oct. 9, Robert Becerra, 29, of Simi Valley, shot and killed Susan Sutcliffe, a 53-year-old Simi resident and mother of two, as she sat outside the tire shop on East Los Angeles Avenue.

Becerra then turned his weapon on Ramirez, a Tire Pros employee, shooting him in the stomach, and shop owner Henry John Heeber, 37, shooting him in the arms, before killing himself. Police have still not determined a motive.

Ramirez was rushed to the Simi Valley Hospital to undergo surgery for his life-threatening wound. Ramirez endured two operations, the first on his abdomen, the second on his back.

"I almost died twice during the (first) surgery because my heart rate was dropping so low," Ramirez said.

His second surgery, to remove bone fragments floating in his spinal canal and close a hole leaking cerebral fluid, went more smoothly.

Albert Ramirez

The .40-caliber bullet missed Ramirez's spinal cord by millimeters and his large intestine had to be removed.

"I'm just glad I'm alive. There's nothing much more I can really ask for," Ramirez said. "I'm not paralyzed. I guess you could say God has other plans for me. He let me live."

Ramirez's outlook is such that he's been able to shine a positive light on the terrible experience of being shot without reason.

"It gives me a second chance at life and puts a lot of things in perspective," he said.

Still in the early stages of his recovery, Ramirez is currently undergoing physical therapy at Northridge Hospital. Extending from 9 a.m. to about 4 p.m. each day, his sessions focus on strengthening his legs and upper body- learning, Ramirez said, how to walk all over again.

His glass-half-full attitude serves him well at the hospital.

"I'm making progress every day," Ramirez said. "My legs are getting stronger. I'm not really walking yet. I can stand on my own but my legs get tired rather quickly. They're trying to build up my stamina and endurance. It gives me a lot of hope, keeps me motivated.

"It's a little hard but it gets better every day," he continued. "I have youth on my side so that kind of helps me bounce back a little bit."

Ramirez hopes to be released from the hospital by Christmas, but there's no guarantee he will be out by then.

And while he displays a cheerful disposition in the face of adversity, there's no arguing that the shooting has changed his life.

Just days before the tragedy, Ramirez had signed up to join the United States Navy. Having already passed the required aptitude test, he had only to go to Los Angeles for a physical.

That dream was shattered Oct. 9 by the killer's bullet.

But, said Ramirez, "everything happens for a reason."

"Other things are planned for my future now and I'm excited either way," he said. "Everything I wanted to do I'm going to do. I'm not going to procrastinate anymore. I will do something with my life regardless of what happened."

Ramirez said he wanted to join the Navy to give his life more direction. Now he has new plans. Ramirez said he's looking forward to starting college courses and is interested in studying psychology, sociology or microeconomics.

Ramirez's older brother, Rudy Frenes, 38, said he's amazed at Albert's frame of mind after everything that's happened.

"His mental toughness is unbelievable," said Frenes, who shared that it was his baby brother who, after being shot, crawled to the counter to call for help.

"He gathered the strength to call 911," Frenes said. "To me, he's my hero."

Ramirez may have a long road ahead of him, but the large turnout at Saturday's benefit concert was testimony to the number of friends, family and community members who are behind him.

"I thank everybody who supports me," Ramirez said. "Everyone's showing a lot of love and a lot of care."

Ramirez is receiving worker's compensation to pay for his medical expenses, but he still needs all the help he can get, even to simply cover the cost of living.

A donation jar at Green Acres has already raised about $1,400.

For those who would like to make a donation to Ramirez, an account has been established at Wells Fargo bank.

Donations are accepted at any branch and can be made out to Wells Fargo, c/o Rudy Frenes.