Wife Says Man Died A Hero, Protecting Daughter From Stray Bullets

CHARLOTTE, NC — Police reported a man was shot inside a Hillgrove Lane apartment complex early Saturday morning, but his wife says there's much more to the story.

Vanessa Freiberg says her husband Jimmy died a hero, and she saw him take his last breath after protecting her and their daughter.

"There was a mass shooting aiming at the building cattycorner to us, we were all sleeping," said Freiberg. She says she awoke to gunfire, grabbed her daughter Charley and took her to the bathroom to protect her. "I ran to find him [Jimmy] in my daughter's bedroom, then running toward us screaming 'oh my god' as he collapsed in front of me," she said.

She says she was looking at a clock as she attempted to revive him, and when the time hit 3:08 a.m., she knew she had lost her husband and the father of her child.

"He died over a senseless crime that caused a stray bullet to enter my child's window which caused his fatality. He died doing what he would have done for anyone he loved and that is by protecting us," said Freiberg.

He leaves behind his wife and two children. Police say they are still investigating the shooting and urge people to call them if they have any information.