PIKE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)— It's the 10-year anniversary of a day that changed countless lives and caught national attention.
On September 12, 2014, Eric Frein opened fire in an ambush outside of the Pennsylvania State Police Barracks at Blooming Grove in Pike County, killing Corporal Bryon Dickson, and severely injuring his fellow trooper, Alex Douglass.
The attack set off an intensive 48-day manhunt to find and capture Eric Frein and bring him to justice.
Frein was found guilty on all charges and was sentenced to death. He remains in prison while he waits for that sentence.
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It's been 10 years of recovery for Alex Douglass. He says staying positive and setting goals has helped push him through the unimaginable.
"It seems a lot shorter than 10 years. It seems like it was almost yesterday to me," recalled Trooper Alex Douglass.
Trooper Alex Douglass recalls the night that forever changed his life.
He was coming in for his midnight shift at the Blooming Grove Barracks in Pike County, when he heard two simultaneous bangs.
"I looked up to the front of our station, I noticed somebody basically laying on the sidewalks right in front of the front doors," remembered Douglass.
After approaching, Douglass realized it was his fellow trooper, Corporal Bryon Dickson who had been shot.
In that moment, he acted quickly, relying on his training.
"Never leave a trooper behind, so my first thing was to get him inside, and get him to safety, and start doing CPR on him," stated Douglass.
But before he could, he was shot through the left side of his back.
"And I dropped instantly," said Douglass.
He was treated by his fellow troopers on scene before being flown to the hospital.
"And that's where I was for at least 30 days," noted Douglass.
It was a tireless fight for survival for Douglass.
"I ended up passing away twice early on and I actually came back twice from being deceased," added Douglass.
With a strong passion for fitness, doctors said Douglass' healthy habits saved his life.
"And they said I wouldn't have been able to have done that if it wasn't due to the shape that I was in," explained Douglass.
"Every day, I put my leg on and I think about the incident, and it's kind of that negativity it could last a couple seconds, it could last a couple minutes, but then I think about the goals that I have for that day," noted Douglass.
Now, Douglass continues to prioritize physical fitness, competing in marathons and weight training. His other passions include his family, and his service dog, Peter.
He also travels, giving motivational speeches, sharing his story of strength, and his positivity despite all odds.
"My message is always keep moving forward never give up. That's my message," voiced Douglass.
Douglass says the community support was also a huge part of helping him recover.
