Alesha Hollinger, Midtown Atlanta Mass Shooting Survivor, Reflects on Her Harrowing Experience One Year Later; Grateful for Emergency Care at Grady Memorial Hospital”
Alesha Hollinger, a survivor of the devastating mass shooting in Midtown Atlanta, has spoken out about her experience one year later. On May 3, 2023, Hollinger was shot in the face as she exited the elevator at Northside Medical Midtown, where she worked. She was one of five women shot in the medical building that day.
Hollinger’s memories of the traumatic event are still vivid, and she recalls being rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital for emergency care. She credits the doctors and medical staff at Grady with saving her life. “It’s so crazy, my memories are so vivid,” she said. “You don’t think that you’re going to be the victim of a mass shooting. That is surreal. Even to this day, there are mornings when I wake up and think, ‘Did this really happen?'”
The shooting led to an eight-hour manhunt across metro Atlanta, leaving the community on edge. The suspect was eventually apprehended, but not before claiming the life of Amy St. Pierre and injuring three other women. Hollinger has spoken publicly about her gratitude for the emergency care she received at Grady, which she believes saved her life.
Dr. Sean Dariushnia, one of the first doctors to treat Hollinger, described the experience as “unnerving” and praised Hollinger’s resilience. “Seeing her at ground zero that day, with massive blood loss, the shrapnel that she had in her head – just seeing that then and seeing her today, she’s made such a wonderful recovery. She is a bright light, and to see her progress is astounding,” he said.
Hollinger has undergone grueling physical therapy and countless doctors’ appointments, supported by her husband and three children. Despite her physical struggles, she remains mentally and spiritually strong. “I have felt mentally and spiritually strong through all of this, but physically, I was destroyed,” she said. “And it took a team to help me rebuild.”
Hollinger’s story is one of gratitude and joy, but she also acknowledges the sadness and remorse she feels for the other families affected by the shooting. “For me and my family, it’s a story of gratitude and joy because our story ended up being a happy one; but the other side of that is the sadness and remorse that I feel for the other families,” she said.
As Hollinger reflects on her experience, she emphasizes the importance of community and support. “What a privilege and an honor that I get to come meet the people who worked to save my life,” she said. Her story serves as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of emergency care.
One year later, Hollinger’s journey is far from over, but she remains hopeful and determined. Her story is a reminder of the impact of violence on individuals and communities and the importance of supporting those affected by trauma.
