Ohio teen recounts night of Colorado shooting - 13abc.com Toledo (OH) News, Weather and Sports

18-year-old Gage Hankins and his family have been home for less than 24 hours. They got back to Forest, Ohio early Monday morning. Monday afternoon he talked to the media about the terrifying moments inside the theater, and you might be surprised to hear what he and his family had to say about his alleged attacker.

Gage has a clear reminder of the horrific ordeal on his right arm.

"The first thing I thought was this has to be a dream, this can't be real. It is crazy this could happen," he says.

Gage and his family were in Colorado for an event with the organization ‘Friends,' a national association for young people who stutter. Gage and his younger brother Jackson were with a group who went to see the midnight showing of the new Batman film.

 "The phone rang, and it was a friend of ours saying that there was a shooting at the movie, and Gage was hit," says his mother, Sarah Hankins.

They were watching the movie in the theater next to the one that James Holmes allegedly opened fire in.

"I didn't know how serious it was until I watched the news and saw that twelve people had been killed and more than 50 others injured," Gage says.

Gage was taken to a local hospital about an hour after the shooting. The doctor told him there were three pieces of shrapnel in his arm that had to come out quickly.

"He told me the worst case scenario was that I could lose my arm," says Gage. "So I said let's go, let's have surgery right now!"

Gage and his family have a message for Holmes.

 "If something is mentally wrong with him, I just want to pray for him, so he can see what he did wrong," he says.    

Gage's long-term prognosis is good. Doctor's expect him to have full range of motion with slight pain for about a month. After that, his arm should be back to normal.

Gage says he will not let the shooter win and will not let fear get the best of him. He says he plans to go back to the movies.