Las Vegas woman recalls moments before being shot while driving in complex

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – A Las Vegas woman is recovering after being shot in the face while driving on a northeast valley road.

“I saw my eyelid hanging out and a lot of blood come out. No one deserves to be shot at just because you are driving by,” Martha Carbajal shared with 8 News Now.

On October 5, Carbajal’s world changed forever as a nightly drive near Charleston and Lamb boulevards turned into a gruesome encounter when a bullet struck while driving by an apartment complex.

“I heard what sounded like fireworks so I started turning left and right to figure out where these fireworks were coming from and that’s when I heard a loud bang in my car,” Carbajal said.

Bullets shattered her window, hitting the headrest of where she was sitting. One bullet hit her directly in the face.

“It hit my cheekbone and came right out my right eye. At that point, I saw pitch black on my right side and my face felt really swollen and I just looked down and I could see a lot of blood,” she said.

Carbajal panicked. She was in pain and pulled over. That’s when she said an onlooker spotted her and rushed to help.

Once paramedics arrived, Carbajal was taken to the hospital for emergency surgery. It was hours later that she learned she had lost her right eye and would eventually need reconstructive surgery to get a prosthetic.

Carbajal said she wanted her story shared so that people can be extra vigilant of their surroundings, no matter where they are. She also stated that the need for more police in the area is evident after what happened to her.

“We watch the news all the time and we hear about all these accidents happening and you just never think it’s going to happen to you or a loved one. Metro police should have more units patrolling the area,” she added.

According to Carbajal, Las Vegas Metropolitan police found 15 bullet casings in her car after the shooting, including the one that hit her which landed in the cup holder by the driver’s seat.

Metro Police are investigating the shooting and looking for the suspects involved. Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers at (702) 385-5555 to remain anonymous.

The Carbajal family has created a GoFundMe page to help with medical costs.

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