Survivors continue to recover weeks after double fatal Sanford shooting

'I didn't want to die,' high school student says

SANFORD, Fla. – Three weeks after a "horrific" Sanford shooting that left a mother and son dead and four other people injured, the survivors are continuing to recover from the physical and emotional scars.

Police said Allen Cashe, 31, armed himself with an AK-47 and sprayed more than a dozen bullets at the home of his girlfriend, 35-year-old Latina Herring. She was shot seven times while lying in bed and died from her injuries.

Her son, 8-year-old Branden Christian, also died after the shooting.

Latina Herring's father, 60-year-old Bertis Herring and her youngest child, 7-year-old Brenden Christian, were both shot multiple times and have been not been back home since the incident.

Brenden Christian is at Arnold Palmer Hospital in Orlando being treated for his gunshot wounds. On Tuesday morning, his father Brandon Christian posted a Facebook Live video showing his son as he works to sit up on his own and walk again.

"Ya'll see my boy. He's walking. My boy is walking," Brandon Christian said.

Brandon Christian said the positive thoughts and well wishes they've received have helped family members through the healing process.

Bertis Herring is also still hospitalized, but was recently moved from the Intensive Care Unit at Central Florida Regional Hospital to a regular room.

Two bystanders, Rakeya Jackson and Lazaro Paredes, 43, who were shot as Cashe fled the area have been released from the hospital. 

Jackson, 18, was waiting for her school bus when Cashe opened fire, police say.

"I was at the bus stop Monday when my mom dropped me off and then this guy, Allen Cashe, came out of nowhere and shot me with an AK47," Jackson said.

She said she was paralyzed with fear and couldn't run to safety.

"I took my hand off my back and I had blood all on my hand," Jackson said. "My mom came around the corner. She saw me on the ground holding my side and I was bleeding out."

In the past three weeks, Jackson has had three surgeries and staples put in her chest. Even with the extensive medical procedures, Jackson is thankful her injuries weren't worse.

"The bullet missed my spine by an inch and I could have been paralyzed," Jackson said.

She's being homeschooled for the rest of the year then return to classes for her senior year. In a month, she will return to the hospital to have the staples in her chest removed.

For now, Jackson said she's happy to be home with her family and her dog. She said she has a message for everyone who supported her during her recovery.

"I would just like to say thank you for supporting me and being there for me," Jackson said. "I didn't want to die."