LUTZ, Fla. -- A Lutz couple is continuing their recovery after being shot two weeks ago.
- Couple still recovering after road rage shooting
- Eric Batcho was hit in the face
- Lauren Batcho had injuries to her chin, arm
The Batchos were on their way home from getting ice cream on Aug. 3 when they encountered a vehicle in their neighborhood driving without their headlights on.
Lauren Batcho was driving and her husband, Eric Batcho, was in the passenger seat.
Lauren flashed her headlights at the other driver to alert them. The Pasco County Sheriff's Office says as Luis Ramund Brito, the driver without his lights on, drove past the couple he fired a shotgun at their vehicle.
Eric was hit in the face and Lauren suffered injuries to her chin and arm.
"You start questioning- why us? Why me?" he said. "All we were really trying to do was warn somebody, 'Hey you're lights are off we want you to be safe.'"
The incident happened yards away from the couple's home. Eric was taken to the hospital and immediately underwent surgery.
"The shot came across my face here, it took off a good chunk of my nose," he said. "It also broke my cheek bone and my orbital bone around my eye."
Since then, he's had other surgeries and will need more in the future. Eric still has nearly 15 shotgun pellets in his face.
Some will stay there forever.
He's also lost partial vision in one eye. Doctors are optimistic he'll gain full vision back in the future.
"That's been pretty hard. You know having perfect vision my whole life. That's been pretty upsetting," he said.
The community has rallied around the couple.
A Go Fund Me has raised thousands of dollars. Eric and Lauren are appreciative of everyone who has helped them -- from neighbors to community members to law enforcement members and doctors.
"That's been a shining light in this very dark time," he said.
Brito remains in jail and faces attempted murder and felon carrying a concealed weapon charges.