Audio Lawyer who survived shooting says he's a `lucky guy' (story audio) Listen to Richard Hendrickson's news conference Photos Lawyer Richard Hendrickson, wounded in Sept. 29 shooting at Hennepin County Government Center, meets the media for the first time. More from MPR Shooting suspect charged with murder (10/01/2003) Officials say woman bought weapon at a gun show (10/01/2003) Hennepin County shooting prompts new look at security (09/29/2003) Your Voice Join the conversation with other MPR listeners in the News Forum.

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Lawyer who survived shooting says he's a `lucky guy'
by Art Hughes, Minnesota Public Radio
October 13, 2003

Lawyer Richard Hendrickson, wounded in Sept. 29 shooting at Hennepin County Government Center, meets the media for the first time and talked about his care at the scene and at HCMC and the public response and support during his recovery. Richard Hendrickson talked about where the bullet struck him, while his father Harry Hendrickson and his sister Lisa Bartz listen. (Photo courtesy of startribune.com/Richard Sennott photographer)

The man who survived the shooting attack at the Hennepin County Government Center two weeks ago says luck and a series of helpful people kept him alive. Attorney Richard Hendrickson is out of the hospital, recovering from a gunshot wound to his neck. His client, Shelley Joseph-Kordell, died in the attack. Her cousin, Susan Berkovitz, faces murder and attempted murder charges in the shooting. Hendrickson spoke to reporters about the shooting.

Minneapolis, Minn. — "I'm Rick Hendrickson and you're looking at one very lucky guy. Extremely lucky, and I realize that," he said.

As he spoke, Hendrickson pressed his collar so his breath wouldn't escape from the hole doctors sliced in his trachea so he could continue breathing in the minutes after the attack.

"I was shot around here. It looks like a mole now. That's the bullet hole. And the bullet went into my neck, ricocheted back and forth, shattered. I guess the largest fragment is still sitting someplace around here in my neck."

Hendrickson fell to the floor, but mustered a remarkable presence of mind during what he thought would be the last moments of his life.

"I'm feeling this pulse of blood as it's leaving me, running down my shoulder, running down my head onto the floor. I was trying to help the prosecutor even if I was dying. So I kept saying, 'my name is Richard Hendrickson. I've just been shot by Susan Berkovitz.'"

That's when the first in a series of what Hendrickson describes as "angels" came to his aid. Susan Love, a court supervisor, grabbed a jacket and pressed it to Hendrickson's neck to try to slow the bleeding.

"It's odd to describe," he said. "I'm sitting there and I'm watching the events and then Susan Love comes up and she takes my head in her hands and we have a very good conversation. She talks about God and Jesus and she's squeezing hard and she's trying to keep me awake and alert."

He praised the paramedics who helped him and the team of doctors at Hennepin County Medical Center. He says his own joy of surviving the shooting is tempered by sadness for his slain client and sympathy for the family of his accused attacker.

"I know the Berkovitz family. I know Susan Berkovitz's brother and sister. They should not have to suffer what they are going through now. They are good folks."

Hendrickson says he could not have predicted the shooting. He describes Berkovitz as intelligent, turning not to violence but to any investigative agency available to her to manipulate or harass people.

"The violence had been slowly escalating, at least in my opinion. But I never expected a gun," he said.

The shooting touched off a debate over security in the building. County officials have formed a task force to examine security and make recommendations by Dec. 1. Hendrickson says he will offer only "humble suggestions."

"It's got to be reasonable. Everybody knows we're under financial budget constraints. And there's got to be a fine line between what's appropriate and what's not appropriate."

Hendrickson was surrounded by family members as he spoke. Harry Hendrickson of Maple Grove says he had trouble at first absorbing the fact his son had been shot.

"I didn't believe it. I just didn't believe it was possible. Why was he shot? And yet, it wasn't the gun that shot him it was that crazy lady that shot him," he said.

Doctors say the bullet that hit Hendrickson bounced off a vertebrae in his neck and tore its way forward. Doctors are at a loss to explain how the bullet ended up where it did without leaving a trail of destruction. Hendrickson's sister, Lori Wachter, says there's no earthly reason for her brother's miraculous survival.

"Because she was so close to him and for a bullet to not sever his spine, or to hit his carodid, or his jugular, it's unbelievable. That's why... truly, it's God's doing. That's all I can say," she said.

Hendrickson says he hopes to start working again, at least part time in the next couple weeks. He says he plans to continue mediations for harrassment and property dispute cases because he says he feels he has a lot more to offer.

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