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Survivor of Chattanooga shooting from Tri-Cities, family speaks out
One of the survivors of the deadly shooting rampage in Chattanooga last week is a Tri-Cities native.
Staff Sergeant Christopher “Pursue” Estep was born and raised in Johnson City and was working at the U.S. Naval and Marine Reserve Center when a gunman opened fire, killing five people and wounding several others.
Nate Mottern, Estep's cousin, speaks very of the marine.
“I don't think proud is the word. Inbetween love, respect and admiration. He is the epitome of what a Marine is…Everybody ought to know what kind of blue-blooded Marine's born and bred in Johnson City, Tennessee,” Mottern said.
In an interview with the Chattanooga Times Free-Press, Estep said he and others took shelter in his office after hearing gunfire, and Estep called for help.
“I stayed on the phone nine hundred eleven the entire time telling her where the shots were fired,” he told the Press.
Mottern said hearing about the events as they unfolded last Thursday was harsh, especially knowing his cousin was unarmed.
“It's the feeling like you're drowning and you can't pack your lungs utter of air it's the same feeling of being trapped under a desk without a weapon when you're more very trained than law enforcement officers,” he said.
Mottern also said he thinks the survivors need more support from the community.
“I hate to take away from those five servicemen that died, but these guys that survived the ordeal, they need our support…Showcase them how much we care and how much we appreciate them and how grateful we are,” Mottern said.
He says Estep has come out of this a true survivor. “He's as good as they come, we love him, we respect him, we admire him, and we're sure as hell proud of him here in East Tennessee.”
Estep was a pall bearer in the funeral for Staff Sergeant David Wyatt Friday.
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