Police said the shooting appears to be random, and there is no suspect information except it was possibly another man wearing a gray hoodie.
GREENSBORO, N.C. — A man who survived a random drive-by shooting on Forest Lawn Drive is sharing his story, calling it nothing short of a miracle.
53-year-old Timothy Davidson, who was shot Sunday afternoon, said he is lucky to be alive after a bullet lodged in the back of his neck—so close to his spinal cord that doctors are hesitant to remove it. Despite the traumatic experience, Davidson said he’s grateful to be here to tell his story.
Davidson and his son, Tim Jr. traveled to Greensboro from Marion, North Carolina, so he could undergo hip replacement surgery scheduled for Monday. On Sunday, they decided to spend some time outdoors and went to Lewis Recreation Center on Forest Lawn Drive to let their dog, Romeo run around.
But at around 12:30 p.m., everything changed.
“I heard some kind of popping sound or shots, and something hit the car,” Davidson recalled. “I told my son to stop the vehicle. Let’s see what’s going on. And as I got out of the vehicle and looked around, I didn’t see any damage to the car. Then I saw a young man running through the woods. I yelled at him, asking, ‘What did you throw at the car?’ That’s when he turned around and fired a gun at me.”
Davidson said the man fired three shots. Two bullets went through the car window, and the third hit him in the neck.
After driving to a nearby Lowes Home Improvement store, emergency personnel quickly responded.
Miraculously, Davidson survived. He was taken to the hospital and released the same night. The bullet remains lodged near his spinal cord, and doctors are uncertain whether removing it is safe. The risk of paralysis looms heavily over any potential procedure.
Greensboro Police said the shooting appears to be random. Officers and K-9 units searched the area but have not identified a suspect. The only description available is of a man wearing a gray hoodie.
Even with the trauma he endured, Davidson said he’s focusing on the positive.
“I’m just lucky to be alive,” he said. “I got shot with a nine millimeter, and I didn’t even bleed out. Everybody’s telling me it’s a miracle that I’m alive. And I just thank God—He’s got another plan for me.”
Police are continuing to investigate and urge anyone with information to come forward.
For now, Davidson is focusing on recovering and looking ahead, one step at a time.
Forest Lawn Drive is a heavily populated area.
The road runs right into a cemetery with Mt. Pisgah Church on one side, and Lewis Recreation Center on the other.
Trail walkers told WFMY News 2’s Amber Lake that they had never heard of something like this happening in this area.
This is still an active investigation, according to police.
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