Dallas Mom Survives Stray Bullet To The Head

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DALLAS (CBS11) - A Dallas mother who was driving her daughter from an Oak Cliff park was shot in the head Wednesday afternoon and survived her injuries.

Dallas Police believe the victim, Maria Lopez, was innocently caught in the crossfire. Detectives are still searching for the person who pulled the trigger.

"The first thing I thought was, it was a tire that blew on my van because I only heard the noise," said Lopez from her hospital bed.

Lopez was rushed to Dallas Methodist Medical Center where surgeons worked to pulled the bullet from her forehead.

Physicians said the bullet pierced her scalp but miraculously stopped at the skull.

Lopez said she was just driving her family from the park near Colorado Boulevard and Blaylock Drive and has no idea why she was shot.

"(I'm) fortunate and grateful to God for another opportunity, that I could still see my kids," said Lopez.

Police are searching for a yellow, Dodge pickup truck that has two black stripes.

"I thought about the worst. That she could die or affect her brain," said Francisco Lopez, the victim's husband.

Francisco said looking at the shattered window of their family van and his wife's forehead, he feels lucky.

"Miracles still exist," said Francisco.

Maria credits her faith and feels someone was watching over her on Wednesday.

While she will forever see a scar on her forehead to remind her of her brush with death, Lopez will not hold any ill will against the person who pulled the trigger.

"Only that I forgive them. I'm going to pray for them so he can have a better life," said Maria.

Doctors expect to release Maria Lopez on Thursday.

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