It's been more than a month since a car crash in Marionville turned into a deadly shooting. The officer who took the gunman's life talks about the incident publicly for the first time.

Marionville Police Officer Andy Clark was shot by Jesse Miller on March 28th. A lot of people consider Officer Clark a hero or lucky to be alive. Both Clark and his wife say more lives could have been lost if he didn't risk his own.

Rhonda Clark says, "He's my hero." Rhonda Clark says she feels lucky to have her husband by her side. For more than a month she's helped him recover a near fatal shotgun wound. Officer Clark says, "The thought crossed my mind that this could be it when I felt the burn in neck." Clark was shot in the neck by Jesse Miller. Clark fired back killing Miller but not before Miller killed a good samaritan who tried to help him after a car crash. Officer Clark says, "I was dispatched to a guy walking down the road with a shot gun." Clark says he kept telling miller to drop his weapon. Officer Clark says, "He was cursing at me telling me to shoot him. The next thing I know I hear a gunshot and feel the pressure." Clark didn’t crack under pressure. He says he doesn’t know how he managed to shoot and kill Miller despite his wound. Officer Clark says, "I think he would have walked into town and there's no telling how many people he would have shot."

Miller may not have taken Clark's life but for now he took away his livelihood. The injured officer still doesn't have full use of his left arm. The shot entered his neck and pellets exited in three places on his back. Doctor's say he's lucky because the shot narrowly missed his spine and an artery in his neck.

Rhonda Clark says, "Just like anybody else I thought he was dead." Rhonda was only a car length away from her husband that day. As a volunteer firefighter she rushed to the scene. She was told not to help but to watch and wait. Rhonda Clark says, "That was me panicking in the very way you are taught not to."

The couple that is used to saving other's lives is waiting for theirs to get back to normal.
They say when your life is saved by a few centimeters everything is put in perspective. Clark says, "We appreciate the small things.”

Clark is on administrative leave until the highway patrol finishes their investigation. He'll start physical therapy next week.

Clark says he feels lucky that miller shot him from only seven feet away. He says because miller used a shotgun the pattern of pellets would have expanded and caused more damage if he was further away.