Merrill Roberts was shot in a drive-by shooting while on a surf trip in Santa Cruz. Photo: GoFundMe
In early November, Merrill Roberts drove from his home in Oceanside, California, to Santa Cruz for a quick surf trip with his son and two friends. Instead of returning home with good memories and salty skin, the 55-year-old surfer found himself in a hail of gunfire. Now, after a bullet missed his aorta by a hair and he recovered for a few weeks in the hospital with a bullet still in his body, he’s back at home. But he’s not out of the woods yet.
According to Roberts, he was an innocent bystander in a drive-by shooting. After they were done eating on the patio of a restaurant, three men stood up and left. That’s when gunfire erupted.
“As they were walking out, one of the guys yelled at a car. It pulled over. I noticed the guys ducking and drawing guns,” said Roberts to ABC 10 San Diego. “I told my table that bullets were about to start flying. After I said that, it was pop, pop, pop, pop, pop.”
Roberts thinks that it was likely the second or third shot that hit him. One of his friends was hit in the back, as well. In the blink of an eye, the shooters drove away and the men they were likely shooting at took off on foot.
The bullet that hit Roberts went through his arm first, before hitting his ribs and shredding a lung. It just missed his aorta, which would have been a death sentence. His left arm was shattered and required metal plates to be held together. X-ray images shared by a GoFundMe campaign show the bullet lodged in his body. His friend was treated and released from the hospital.
X-rays show the plate attached to Roberts’ humerus bone and the bullet lodged near his aorta. Photos: GoFundMe
“I feel blessed talking to you right now,” Roberts continued. “…I feel humbled. I literally dodged more than one bullet even though I took one bullet. It’s a miracle, a second chance to do things even better … This is definitely going to be a great Thanksgiving. I have a lot of gratitude.”
Now, two weeks after the shooting, two men have been arrested in what is suspected to be a gang-related crime.
“As a family, we call it one of God’s tender mercies,” wrote Roberts’ sister-in-law, Julie Roberts, for the crowdfunding campaign. “Had the bullet not shattered his humerus, it more than likely would have had enough energy to penetrate his aorta. We are also very grateful that his son did not get hit.”
Roberts underwent surgery on November 17. Screws and a plate were implanted, but he’s still in constant pain. In the days following the shooting, he was on oxygen, required a blood transfusion, and had fluid building up in his lungs. The doctors couldn’t immediately remove the bullet, either.
“The doctors don’t think they will remove the bullet because it is too risky,” Julie explained. “He is still having issues with his lungs and the position of the bullet.”
As of this writing, Roberts has been released from the hospital and is recovering at home. “Merrill is home, and begins the process of healing and adjusting to life with his current health problems,” the campaign reads. “We continue to pray for his recovery, especially as he struggles with lung problems.”
The family set up the GoFundMe for Roberts to ease the financial burden that often comes with the American healthcare system.
“Merrill is a loving husband, father, and grandfather. His loving wife, Jeany, has taken off work so she can be at the hospital with Merrill,” his family wrote. “Merrill is self-employed, and a lot of things are unsure regarding the length of time in the hospital, his recovery, rehabilitation, and the time off from work he will need. He faces a long, uncertain journey towards recovery, and his family can use financial support.”
