Out of the hospital and back home, Detroit Police officer James Kisselburg is now reflecting on the night in March he nearly lost his life.
He tells 7 Action News he did a lot of praying that night, saying, "Please don't let me die here. Let me see my family one more time."
Kisselburg and Ben Atkinson were out working the streets near Ash and Tillman on the city's southwest side, when they say they encountered 60-year-old Raymond Durham.
Investigators say Durham fired several shots at the two officers.
Kisselburg says the gunman stood over him after he was shot twice, once in the face and neck.
He says, "I somehow got shot in the face. I could see the commotion around me. I couldn't move and I was paralyzed."
At that point he says he just closed his eyes and played dead.
Atkinson was also shot, but investigators say his vest saved him.
Durham has now been linked to the killing of Wayne State Sergeant Collin Rose through DNA. The 20-year veteran heard the news in the hospital.
As for these two Detroit officers, they now have a lifelong bond, brothers who had each other's back - Atkinson coming to the rescue when it sounded like the gunman was reloading.
Kisselburg says he covered him and waited for backup, and credits him for saving his life.
There is a fundraiser for both officer at Tony V's on April 14th at 6pm. There's also a GoFundMe page, helping them with money during his difficult time.
