San Francisco cannabis shop owner shot 7 times closing business to recover
SF man tells his story after being shot seven times
Martin Olive, the San Francisco man shot seven times in the South of Market, is choosing to remember those who came to his aid rather than the man who fired the shots.
SAN FRANCISCO - A San Francisco man who was shot seven times outside his South of Market cannabis shop recalled the horrific attack.
No prior interactions
What we know:
Martin Olive said he remembered the gunman pulling out a weapon and firing at him. However, he is choosing to focus on those who have rallied to his side following the shooting.
The shooting outside Olive's cannabis dispensary was a shock even in the sometimes troubled South of Market neighborhood.
Olive, founder of the Vapor Room, said he was outside leaning against a bike rack when a man he didn't remember having previous interactions with got off an e-bike, pulled a gun and pointed it at him.
‘My life changed forever’
What they're saying:
"Then I realized the severity of what was happening, and I put my hands up and I, sort of tried to dodge what was impending," said Olive. "Very clearly aimed at my head. Two shots that hit me in the cheek. One went up and hit my earlobe, the top of my ear. The other open split my cheek down here and split my earlobe and then that was the moment that reality became a whole different thing and my life changed forever."
Olive said he remembers the gun going off repeatedly; two shots grazing his cheek and hitting his ear, two more in his back. In all, he suffered seven gunshot wounds.
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Olive credits first responders and excellent medical care with saving his life, including bystanders like the woman who used her shirt to apply pressure to his wounds.
"Literally the shirt off her back and she happened to be a nurse," said Olive. "She was like an angel. The first angel that I encountered through this entire process, and there have been many."
Suspect killed during standoff
What we know:
Police said the gunman, 34-year-old Cheasarak Chong, made his way to his apartment above the Vapor Room after shooting Olive. After a standoff with officers in which he fired at police, Chong was shot dead.
Olive said he'd heard Chong obtained the guns legally.
Olive said he doesn't recall ever seeing or interacting with Chong, who had previously been acquitted of attempted murder in 2018.
Olive said before he learned that Chong was dead, he worried he might have to face him again someday.
"He didn't hesitate one second to end my life, to attempt to end my life," said Olive. "I feel safer that I don't have to worry about him now or in the future."
Olive is facing a long recovery with gunshot injuries to his cheek and ear, a broken jaw, some facial paralysis, a broken scapula, and numerous cracked ribs. He said he's also coping with nightmares and PTSD following the unprovoked attack.
Olive said he's focusing on his recovery and is thankful to those around him who have rallied to his side.
"I'm sort of open to the universe offering me some more blessings and shining some light on other paths I can take or where my next path is. I'm open to what can happen," he said.
For now, Olive is shuttering the Vapor Room to focus on his recovery.
Friends have set up a GoFundMe page to help cover his living expenses and mounting medical bills.
The community around him, which includes his friends and employees, wished him well and a speedy recovery.
The Source: Information for this story comes from an interview with the victim, Martin Olive, along with previous reporting.