Gun store employee describes shooting ordeal

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - It was exactly two weeks ago, when police say a customer opened fire inside Don's Guns on the city’s west side, shooting a clerk. That clerk shot back, killing the customer.   

42-year-old Ben Chance was that clerk, and spoke with 24-Hour News 8 inside his hospital room in Methodist Hospital.

“I’m thankful for this hospital. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be here,” said Chance.

With his fiancé Sylvia sitting by him, they explained how the past two weeks have been for their family. Together, they have four children.

“This whole time, it’s been really rough on him. Not just physically, he’s gone through a lot psychologically and emotionally,” said Sylvia. “This has really affected him, because, a life was taken. He simply did what he had to do, to possible save everybody else in the store. He's my hero, because he's really been through a lot.”

“Our hearts go out to the gentlemen's family, but he was shot. He could have lost his life, and a lot of others could have lost their life,” she added.

It was two Mondays ago, when Ben Chance was working at Don's Guns.

He says 26-year-old Brian Wayner came in, went to the shooting range for awhile, then came back out. They say he was wearing what looked like sunglasses, or tinted glasses at that point.

“When he came out to return the pistol he set it on the counter, and I went to reach for it and he grabbed it,” said Chance. “As soon as he grabbed it and pointed it at me, I drew my gun. Then he shot me, so I shot him back…. It was sheer adrenaline though. Once I knew I was hit and he had a loaded gun, he could have shot up everybody else. So I had to take him down before he tried to shoot anybody else.”

Chance was hit in the chest, the bullet narrowly missing his aorta – by just an inch.

“Once I knew I was hit and he had a loaded gun, he could have shot up everybody else, so I had to take him down before he tried to shoot anybody else,” Chance added.

Before he collapsed, Chance dialed 911. One of his fellow employees took over that call. Then, he called his fiancé. “He dropped the phone. And I hear gasping and crying, and Brenda, holding her hands over his chest, telling him to just hold on, just hold on, just hold on. I heard ‘Ben…’ and I pretty much knew he'd been shot. I just got in my car and drove over there as fast as I could, praying he wasn't gone before I got there.” Sylvia went to the hospital, and waited to hear about how he was doing. “It was the longest hour of my life. They finally came out and said he’s going to live.”

Ben remembers part of the ambulance ride.

“I just remember them saying we're losing him, we're losing him,” Chance said.

It’s been a long recovery since then. Chance had a setback on Thursday and had another surgery on his lung. He’s hoping to get his chest tubes out this week, and head home later this week as well. Sylvia says his emotional healing will take longer.

Chance says he feels bad, and that he saw no warning signs before Wayner picked up that pistol.

“There’s no telling what was going on in that boy’s mind; no one will ever know, I guess,” added Sylvia.

“I’m not a hero by any means. I’m just, I did what anybody could have done to try and survive,” said Chance

Chance also plans to go back to work when he can. “Everybody keeps asking me if I'll go back. That's my life. I’ve been there 19 years. It was a fluke thing that happened. Usually that's the last place you’re going to try to come in and do something.”

He also says this entire experience has made him look at life in a different way.

“It gave me a whole different outlook at life, since I got a second chance.”

Prosecutors have said they will not file charges against Chance. They've ruled Chance fired back in self-defense.