He remembers the sound first. The crack of the gun firing so close to her body that it seemed impossible to believe. For Shamay Pitt, a 23-year-old mother from DeKalb County, her life had always been a balancing act—a mixture of responsibility, hope, love, and the weight of carrying more than anyone could see. She believed in second chances, forgiveness, and fighting through the hard times. But nothing in her life prepared her for the night that would change everything.
It started on November 2, a day that was meant to be ordinary. Her ex-boyfriend, Joshua Woodruff, texted her, asking to meet. He said it was just a conversation—no anger, no threats. But as they sat in her car, an argument broke out. Words were exchanged, voices raised, and before she could comprehend what was happening, she was shot—ten times.
The first shot stole her breath. The second took her balance. By the third, her vision blurred, and all she could hear was the deafening ring in her ears. Shot after shot, Shamay’s body was torn, her life hanging by a thread. Yet, even after the shooting stopped, the nightmare didn’t end. Instead of calling for help, Joshua dragged her, still bleeding, into another car and drove her across two counties, while she begged for her life.
“I don’t want to die in this car,” she whispered, her voice weak but filled with desperation. She could feel her consciousness flickering, but the thought of her son, the love for him, kept her tethered to life.
After hours of agony, Joshua finally drove her to a hospital. She was barely alive when she arrived. Doctors rushed her into surgery, working tirelessly to save her. Shamay survived ten bullet wounds, each one a chance for her life to end. But against all odds, she made it through. She was a miracle, they said.
The recovery wasn’t easy—physically, emotionally, or financially. There are days when Shamay relives the pain, when her body aches, and when sleep refuses to come. Yet, every morning, she wakes up to the smile of her son. His love is the reason she fights, the reason she heals, and the reason she speaks out.
Shamay didn’t just survive violence; she survived a silence that so many Black women face. Cases like hers are not rare—they are far too common. Women like Ta’Kiya Young, Mahogany Jackson, and countless others face violence and betrayal, often unheard and unprotected. But Shamay refuses to let her silence be the end of her story.
She shares her story, even when it hurts, because she knows that someone else might hear it and realize they’re not alone. She speaks for those who cannot, for those still trapped in silence and fear. She speaks to remind others that they deserve safety and that they are worthy of being heard.
With the support of her community, including a GoFundMe campaign for her medical care and long-term healing, Shamay is slowly rebuilding her life. Every donation, every prayer, every message of support reminds her that the world still has kindness, even in the darkest of times.
Shamay’s journey is far from over. Some days she walks slowly, her body still healing, but she keeps moving forward. She survived ten bullets, hours without help, and a betrayal that would have broken anyone else. But she is still here. And now, she speaks for every woman who cannot.
Shamay Pitt is not just a survivor. She is a warrior, a beacon of strength, and a voice for those who need it most. She survived the unimaginable—and she will continue to fight, for herself, for her son, and for every woman who needs to know they are not alone.