Gastonia, NC — A 20-year-old woman was left fighting for her life after being shot twice inside a Gastonia home, but even after losing the ability to use her arms, she managed to reach her boyfriend for help in an extraordinary effort to survive.
Autumn Setola was among the victims of a shooting spree at a home on Forbes Road Thursday morning, according to authorities and family members. She was critically injured and later taken to CaroMont Regional Medical Center, where she has been undergoing surgeries.
Setola’s boyfriend, Jacob “Jake” Henson, said she managed to contact him despite her injuries. According to family accounts, she used the tip of her nose to operate her phone because she could not use her arms.
The call immediately sent Henson rushing toward the home.
‘I’ve been shot’ sent boyfriend running
Setola reportedly told Henson exactly what had happened when he answered the phone.
“She said, ‘I’ve been shot by Cory,’” Henson told WCNC.
Henson said he immediately ran out of his home without shoes and jumped into his car. He was so overwhelmed by the situation that he was driving toward the Forbes Road residence while calling 911 to alert emergency responders.
“I was freaking out. Please let her live. I didn’t know how bad it was,” he said, according to the outlet.
By the time Henson arrived, paramedics were already responding to the scene.
The details of Setola’s call were later confirmed by Monica Shelley-Henson, Henson’s mother, who described the young survivor as independent, strong and kind.
Shelley-Henson said Setola had been shot a second time and could not move her arms, but somehow managed to retrieve her phone and contact Jake using her nose.
Two people were killed inside the home
The shooting left two other people dead and two injured, according to police.
Authorities identified the deceased victims as Victoria “Heather” Moore, 50, and Josiah Bumgardner, 38. Moore was the mother of one of the suspects, while Bumgardner was identified as the suspect’s uncle.
Setola and her stepbrother, Keaton, were transported to CaroMont Regional Medical Center with life-threatening injuries, officials said.
Setola remained in critical but stable condition as of Tuesday, according to Shelley-Henson. Her family said she was undergoing surgeries daily while continuing her recovery.
The violence shocked residents of the suburban Gastonia community, which is located only a few miles from the North Carolina-South Carolina border.
Suspects fled after deadly shooting
Police identified the suspects as Cory Armstrong, 29, and Camryn Moore, 26.
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After the shooting, the pair allegedly fled North Carolina and traveled into southern Ohio, triggering a multistate manhunt.
The search ended Friday following a police chase, when both suspects died from gunshot wounds in what North Carolina authorities said was being investigated as a possible double-suicide.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol had not independently confirmed that determination at the time of the report.
Authorities have continued examining what led to the shooting and what may have prompted the alleged rampage.
Investigation continues as survivor fights to recover
While the circumstances surrounding the violence remain under investigation, Setola’s family has focused on her recovery.
Her ability to make that emergency call despite suffering multiple gunshot wounds became a critical moment in the aftermath.
For Henson and his family, the call also captured just how serious the situation was. He had no idea what he would find when he raced to the house, but Setola’s determination to reach him ensured that help was on the way.
Authorities are still working to establish the full sequence of events leading to the shooting, including what triggered the confrontation and how the victims and suspects were connected.
For now, Setola remains hospitalized as her family waits for her condition to improve after surviving a shooting that claimed two lives.
What do you think about Setola’s extraordinary effort to call for help despite her injuries? Share your thoughts in the comments.