PHOENIX (AZ Family) — For the first time, we’re hearing from a man who survived being shot in the face during what police called a racially motivated attack in October at Tempe Beach Park.

Clinton Fannell considers his survival nothing short of a miracle.

He has lost several teeth and has scars, stitches and braces inside his mouth, making it difficult for him to speak and eat.

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

“It’s cathartic and it’s a place of peace and serenity for me,” he said as he painted.

The 53-year-old artist is also a veteran of homelessness.

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

Police say 27-year-old Jason Fox pulled his gun while yelling racial slurs at a couple near the Mill Avenue bridge and just minutes later shot Fannell in the face.

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

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

Fannell believes he was too young to be filled with such hatred.

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

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

Fannell remembers Fox making racist remarks while watching him paint.

“I admired him, but with contempt how you are able to paint such a thing. As if I was not worthy to be given the gift of talent,” Fannell said.

While the emotional and physical pain may be long-lasting, Fannell says his survival has renewed his desire to help others and reconnect with his family.

“Blessed and I think I have some work to do. I’m here with a purpose now,” Fannell said.

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

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