Girl shot in the chest helped out of mall by friend
CLACKAMAS, Ore. – Kristina Shevchenko was the only shooting victim to survive in Clackamas Town Center on Tuesday afternoon, and a teenage friend helped her get out of the mall alive.
Shevchenko, 15, was shot in the chest, and on Friday she was upgraded to fair condition at Oregon Health & Science University.
Shevchenko's friend Alyona Chukhrii told her story for the first time Friday how she and Shevchenko were walking through the mall after school like they always do to get to the MAX stop when their world turned upside down.
"I saw something out of the corner of my eye that was not normal," Chukhrii said as she and Shevchenko walked by Macy's.
That something was a man with a gun.
"I first thought it was a joke," Chukhrii said. "I thought he was just trying to scare people. But after he started shooting the first bullets, I didn't want to believe he was actually trying to kill someone, but my gut was like, take her and run.
"When we hid, we saw a man fall, and he died in front of us.
"When we hid, she started telling me that her side hurts like really badly. I didn't want to believe that she got shot, but when I checked her sweater she had a few holes in there, and I knew that she got shot. I told her, 'We have to get up; we have to get you into the back alley, and we have to get you someone for emergency so you can be treated. 
"Kristina couldn't walk any more. She was in really bad pain."
At last help arrived and with a bullet wound to the chest, her lung collapsed and her liver bruised, Shevchenko was taken to the hospital.
Chukhrii is happy Shevchenko is alive but she also feels guilt that can come with this kind of tragedy.
"I'm thankful that God helped us out and that he's the only one that could have saved her life and saved mine. But on one side, I still think I should have protected her and tried to help her not get shot," the 16-year-old said.
Shevchenko and Chukhrii both come from Russian speaking families and Friday afternoon Chukhrii read a statement in Russian thanking everyone in the community for their help, their thoughts and prayers.
A very true friend rescuing another friend. I would want you to be my kids' friend in times of danger - and of happiness. Thank you, Alyona!
Alyona: You have my highest respect. Â To stay by your friends side, remaining calm and collected enough to work a plan to keep the both of you safe, is more than most people would do. Â
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Alyone, you said, "...I still think I should have protected her...." Â That is exactly what you did. Â It is quite possible your actions during this crisis saved your friends life.
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You, your parents, and family, can be very proud of the way you handled yourself. Â I would be truly humbled and honored to be able to shake your hand. Â
K2, how does this story connect with yesterday's story http://www.katu.com/news/local/Shot-girl-gave-me-a-reason-to-be-in-a-bad-situation-183452791.html . . . neither girl mentions the other . . .seems odd?
 @nwenigma Kristina and her friend Alyona were together from the beginning.  The girl in the story you mention came to the aid at the point Kristina could not walk any more.  In total, there are three girls involved in this story.
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I thought it was strange the story you mentioned didn't talk about Alyona as well.  In fact I started to think I had misunderstood about Kristina having a friend who stayed with her through the whole ordeal.
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I suppose its due to the journalist either not having all the information when she wrote yesterdays story, or she isn't a very good writer, or, and this is my personal thought, Tomlinson wanted to milk the story for all it was worth by creating two from one.
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Did that help?Â
 @Tox  @nwenigma Thank you, that did help . . .I didn't want to consider that anyone would take such a horrific incident as an opportunity to cast the limelight on themselves and I truly hope the media isn't taking advantage of it eaither, so I shall assume "its due to the journalist either not having all the information when she wrote yesterdays story"
This is especially odd since the same reporter, Kerry Tomlinson, is credited with both stories.
Such a brave and beautiful young lady. Thank you, Alonya. You did an outstanding job.
Alonya, you did fine. Â You could not have stopped this, but you cared for Kristina and did not abandon her, which put you at greater risk to be harmed by that screwball. Â Do not feel guilty. Â The whole country should be grateful that you were there for her. Â