‘Happened so fast:’ Bartender injured in deadly DeLand shooting reflects on incident

DELAND, Fla. – Courtney Rickman is finally back home with her kids for the first time being shot during a during a deadly brawl at McCabe’s Bar in Deland which left 32-year old Keshod Harris dead.

The DeLand police said the gunman shot seven times that evening. Six shots hit Harris in the chest, and one went through both of Rickman‘s hands.

“So my right hand right now has six pins in it and some wires,” Rickman said. “It has extensive nerve damage, ligament damage, tissue damage, and all three metacarpal of my fingers were crushed and had to be reconstructed.”

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Rickman, a bartender at McCabe’s, was discharged from the hospital Wednesday afternoon.

DeLand police said Rickman was just trying to break up the fist fight that night which led to the shooting.

She said that now she’s learning a new life of how to pick up things because her hands were so severely damaged after being shot. 

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“I have two pins in this hand (left) but it’s gonna be a little bit of a process,” Rickman said.

The veteran said she’s had two surgeries so far, and there could be more in the future. 

She’s thankful, even though her hands are damaged, because she is still alive. 

“It was the most terrifying thing I’ve ever been through. It happened so fast that I didn’t really have time to get scared when it happened, but, it it’s it keeps coming back. It replays in your mind over and over,” Rickman said.

Police said that 24-year-old Avantae Williams, the accused shooter, is behind bars. He was booked into the Volusia County Jail on May 5 and faces charges of second degree murder by use of a firearm. 

Rickman said that she’s glad Williams is behind bars, however, she wishes she did more to save Harris’ life.

“It made me feel a little bit of relief. Obviously it doesn’t bring that gentleman back that passed away, but it might get him some justice,” Rickman said.