DIXON, CA (MPG) - Mild mannered and soft spoken 7-Eleven clerk David Fontaine was not having a good day when what felt like the cold steel of a gun barrel was painfully pushed down into the soft tissue between his neck and shoulder. He simply closed the cash register drawer and made an instant decision.

“You’ve learned all the procedures but in that moment you have two options going through your brain: fight or flight. They tell us to just let them have it but that tells thieves to come back. I wasn’t going to tolerate it,” said Fontaine from his small bedroom he rents in a Dixon residence with friends. Fontaine was the clerk working at 10 pm on Feb. 8 at the 7-Eleven store on the corner of Stratford and North First Street who was critically wounded in an armed robbery.

“Every animal in the entire world will instantly attack if something tries to steal it. I was cornered. No one was expecting that and I know I wasn’t, but when you’re in that moment where it’s either them or you, my brain chose me,” said the 31-year-old.

He raised his loose t-shirt to show two black circles the size of quarters on either side of his abdomen and a 6 to 8-inch red line with dots on either side running down the center of his torso. He had been in the hospital listed in critical condition for a week while Dixonites sat on edge as news unfolded around town.

“There was a scuffle and I was shot in my lower right hand stomach region a few inches in and the bullet came out the back so didn’t hit any organs but the other shot which is below my bottom left rib, hit my upper and lower intestinal track and grazed my kidneys,” he said. “The third shot hit a shelf and thankfully, missed everybody else.” Fontaine said a couple of customers were visiting with him in the store, and he did not realize that the other two guys that had just come in were part of the ‘robbery team.’

The Dixon Police Department arrested 21-year-old Jeremiah Gordon-Hill of Richmond on charges relating to attempted murder, attempted robbery, burglary, possession of a firearm as a convicted felon and conspiracy to commit a crime. Also arrested were 25-year-old Kahraan Nabavi and 24-year-old Treyvonn Cook, both from Marin City in Marin County, on similar charges. Cook also faces a violation of probation.

Fontaine has formed opinions about guns during his recovery.

“Honestly, I think everybody who owns a store should have a gun readily available,” he said.

“While we respect the right of any citizen to defend themselves against violence, we have tremendous faith and trust in our law enforcement partners. These men and women put their own lives on the line every day to protect the public in situations that are often fluid and wildly unpredictable. We would never encourage a citizen to put themselves in harm’s way unnecessarily,” said Solano County District Attorney Krishna Abrams.

Dealing with Aftermath

While Fontaine is healing, his mother is driving him to legal proceedings, but Fontaine is still in a lot of pain.

“I’m alive but where they took the staples out, it feels like bee stings and like a burning curling iron resting on my insides,” he said. He has been able to pay his rent because of Workers Comp but attributes the other housemates for cooking and providing food.

“We love David, but this has given us a deeper level of love for him. He’s a beautiful person. He’s like a son to me,” said homeowner Toni Echarte who said she and the other housemates went into “prayer the instant we heard.”

“He has been through major surgery and lost some of his intestines but we are amazed at his recovery rate,” she added.

“I’ve worked here in Dixon 27 years and never had anything like this,” said Sunny Atwal, the 7-Eleven manager. “David is a really nice guy, he’s a great employee, is always on time, and has helped me out. I love this guy,” he added empathetically.

“My philosophy as a prosecutor has always been to put victims first,” offered Abrams. “As District Attorney, I firmly believe it is my responsibility to prosecute serious and violent crimes to the fullest extent of the law. I will never waiver in my commitment to making our community safe and making sure the victim’s voice is always heard.”

After he was shot the men ran out of the store and Fontaine had to make another choice. To fall on the ground or reach for a phone. He called the Dixon police who responded immediately.

Increase in Violent Crime

Since he’s been out of the hospital, Fontaine has been reflecting on his experience.

“I was emotionally prepared as I’ve had several terrifying experiences when I lived in a group home. I wasn’t scared,” Fontaine said. He was more angry that someone was trying to steal and spoke about how the “State of California has been degrading over the past several years” and blamed parents for not teaching their children not to steal. He said he has noticed an increase in bad attitudes, disrespectful remarks, and said systems need to “stop spoiling the prisoners” and/or putting criminals back out on the streets.

“Prop 47 and other accompanying legislation simply failed to take into account how the proposed reforms would impact our ability to do our jobs as prosecutors, as well as how those reforms would affect those who have been victimized by crime,” said Abrams.

“Further attorney positions are required to immediately address both the uptick in violent crime, as well as the changes in the law that result in violent criminals being released early before their entire sentence has been completed. There are currently over 65 pending murder cases in Solano County and our resources have been stretched to the limit. More funding is needed to ensure that these cases can be prosecuted ethically and fairly, and that the victims get justice.”

Fontaine says that he will go back to work when he’s healed.

“I’ve seen the news and seen what everybody has said, and I’m grateful for everybody’s words and encouragement to get better,” he said. “The best thing I can say even though you’re a small-town community, you have the biggest hearts and it’s much appreciated.”