Shot Pa. trooper: 'I crawled on my arms, dragged my legs'

SCRANTON, Pa. -- Eight months ago, Trooper Alex Douglass was shot outside the Pennsylvania State Police barracks in Pike County.

Those shots were allegedly fired by Eric Frein, who is now facing murder charges in the death of Cpl. Bryon Dickson.

Douglass survived the ambush and is now talking about the horrifying night - and his road to recovery.

"I heard what actually sounded like fireworks going off," said Douglass.

The nearly 10 year state police veteran ran toward the barracks to find out where the sounds were coming from.

As he neared the front entrance, he found Cpl. Dickson, his supervisor, on the ground.

"As I went over to him, that's when I got shot and I went down to my knees," Douglass said. "At that point I knew someone was shooting at us. I crawled on my arms, dragged my legs. I couldnt feel my legs at the time."

Douglass says as two other troopers pulled him into the lobby, the others started securing the barracks.

"I knew someone was shooting at us and I didn't know why. I didn't know if it was an ambush, I didn't know if there were 12 guys out there, if there was one or two guys," said Douglass.

Douglass was flown to Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton - his heart stopped twice before he was stabilized.

"I actually coded twice, that I know of, on the table," said Douglass.

Almost a week after the ambush, the day of Cpl. Dickson's funeral, Douglass was in a medically induced coma.

At the same time, hundreds of law enforcement officers from around the country had begun searching for Eric Frein in the Poconos. He soon became one of the FBI's Ten Most Wanted.

Finally, seven weeks later, U.S. Marshals captured Frein in an old airport hangar in Monroe County and he is currently awaiting trial.

"I was ecstatic. I was like, 'That's great.' I was so happy, I was in tears actually," Douglass said.

His recovery has included 16 surgeries, with another one coming up soon.

He says he looks forward to the day he can get back on the job and is grateful for both the outpouring of support - and the fact that he's here to share his story.

"That I'm here, I'm alive, that I'm healthy and I'm going to be healthier. Getting back to 99 or 100 percent normal, living a healthy life," Douglass said.

Douglass has remained close to Cpl. Dickson's widow Tiffani and the children.

He says that one thing he's learned is that while one person can do harm, there are many more people out there who do good.

Douglass also says along with going back to work - he's set a goal of running, and finishing, the New York City Marathon.