PHOENIX (AZFamille) — For the first time, we hear of a man who survived being shot in the face during what police called a racist attack in October at Tempe Beach Park.

Clinton Fannell considers his survival a true miracle.

He has lost several teeth and has scars, stitches and braces in his mouth, making it difficult to talk and eat.

But he also has a new sense of purpose now that he says he’s been given a second chance at life.

“It’s cathartic and for me it’s a place of peace and serenity,” he says while painting.

The 53-year-old artist is also a homeless veteran.

“Try to make people understand that just because we’re here on the street, we’re still people,” Fannell said. “For a few minutes, I really thought I was going to die.”

Police said Jason Fox, 27, pulled out his gun while yelling racial slurs at a couple near the Mill Avenue Bridge, and minutes later shot Fannell in the face.

“This guy came in and said ‘I’m here to shoot you’ and I said ‘don’t you want to shoot’ before I could get ‘me’ out of my mouth, I caught the bullet,” Fannell said. “It hit me in the jaw. It bounced off my mouth and knocked out a few teeth, then the bullet lodged in my throat.

Investigators quickly found the suspect and attempted to arrest him, but they say Fox shot a Tempe police detective who returned fire, and Fox died at the scene.

Fannell thinks he was too young to be filled with so much hatred.

“You base your hatred simply on the color of a person,” he said. “I wish I knew the guy a little better. Maybe I could have made him think a little differently.

He said he met Fox about two months before the attack at another nearby park.

Fannell remembers Fox making racist remarks while watching him paint.

“He admired it, but with disdain, like how can you paint something like that. Like I’m not worthy of receiving the gift of talent,” Fannell said.

Although the emotional and physical pain can last a long time, Fannell says her survival has renewed her desire to help others and reconnect with her family.

“Blessed and I have something to do, I think. I’m here for a purpose now,” Fannell said.

Clinton says he’s grateful to all the first responders and doctors who saved him. He said he had the opportunity to shake the hand of the detective who was also shot by Fox, which meant a lot to him.

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