Redlands woman held hostage, shot by police, opens up for first time

REDLANDS, Calif. (KABC) -- A woman accidentally shot by police while her ex-boyfriend held her hostage spoke for the first time about the terrifying ordeal on Sunday.

Kristin Bauer was at the Office Depot in Redlands where she worked when her ex-boyfriend, 29-year-old Andrew Mike, showed up with a gun on March 29.

"First I just thought this has to be a dream. This isn't happening," Bauer said.

The 28-year-old said she had ended her relationship with Mike earlier that same day.

While in the Office Depot, Mike shot someone in the hand before taking Bauer outside and onto a sidewalk where he held Bauer hostage for hours.

"I was telling him, 'You know you have to let me go. This isn't right,'" Bauer said. "I knew I wanted to make it through and I just did what I had to do."

After hours of failed negotiations, officers opened fire, killing Mike but also accidentally striking Bauer.

"As soon as I heard the shots, I was like, 'This is it. This is the end,'" Bauer recalled.

MORE: Woman wounded in Redlands hostage situation was shot by officers, police chief says

After Bauer was shot, officers rushed to her aid, dragging her from the scene.

"When I got hit, I knew I got hit because I felt it and it was the worst pain I've ever felt," Bauer said "When I got up and tried to run, that's when they grabbed me, and that's when I blacked out and I woke up in the helicopter."

After weeks of recovery and multiple surgeries, Bauer has had time to reflect and said she could forgive the man who caused her so much pain.

"I have no hard feelings towards him. Honestly, he was a good guy ever since we were dating and I never even noticed anything. I didn't think that he would be capable of this," Bauer said.

Her family, friends and colleagues have rallied around her, hosting several fundraisers, including one at Brew Rebellion in San Bernardino on Sunday.

MORE: Coworkers helping woman who was shot during Redlands hostage ordeal

The events represent a step forward in her long road to recovery.

"I'm not going to let this affect my life. I'm going to go on and go back to work and be the same person I used to be," Bauer said.

Bauer has another surgery coming up, but said she hopes to be fully recovered within the year. In the meantime she said she just wants to move on with her life.