Woman Shot After Attempted Home Invasion Next Door

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FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) - A woman was shot in her bed, during an attempted home invasion at her neighbor's apartment on Monday night.

Juanita Orellana was watching a movie on her bed, when she heard several gunshots just outside her apartment complex.

"I heard five gunshots, and all of a sudden I felt one hit me on my back," Orellana said.

She describes immediately feeling a burning pain on her lower back.

"It was like they had jammed a torch in my back and it hurt real bad," she said.

The woman managed to call 911 and stay on the phone with the operator who advised her to remain still and wait for help to arrive.

Fort Worth Police said the stray bullet that pieced Orellana's apartment wall and then hurt her, was the result of a gunfight at an apartment next door.

The attempted home invasion happened at a complex in the 2800 block of Las Vegas Trail. Investigators believe Cornelius Andrus, 20, and another suspect tried to force their way into Orellana's neighbor's apartment. They allegedly shot through the door when the resident refused to let them in.

Police said Andrus was also wounded when someone inside the residence returned fire.

"It's very scary. I would not want this to happen to nobody [sic]," Orellana said.

Thankfully, her injury was only a superficial wound. She credits her pillows -- the thin layers of cotton and stuffing -- with saving her life.

"The bullet went through the wall, through the pillows, and then through me," she explained.

She was released from the hospital a day after she was admitted. She is still in a lot of pain, but is feeling blessed to be alive.

"You always have to have the good book next to you," Orellana said while pointing to the Bible she keeps by her bedside.

Andrus was taken into custody for outstanding warrants of driving while intoxicated and aggravated assault.

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