(Justin Willis Reporting)
Doctors are working to save the eye of a homeless man who was shot in the eye with a paintball gun.
Les Garcia was one of several people shot with a paintball gun at a homeless encampment over two weeks ago.
Garcia lost the site of his eye but thanks to InSight Vision center, he should be able to keep the eye... free of charge.
Dr. Azhar Salahuddin was called to help and is volunteering his services. "Normally these kind of injuries, patients often lose their eye. We have to remove the entire eye but he was fortunate that we were able to reconstruct the eye, so he will save that eye," said Dr. Salahuddin.
It took several stitches, and while he won't be able to see out of his right eye, Les will be able to keep it. "It cut his cornea... it actually cut his eye right in half," said Dr. Salahuddin.
Dr. Salahuddin will begin removing the stitches in the coming months and it could be a year before the eye fully heals.
Meanwhile, the suspect in the shooting, 18-year-old Felix Flores, awaits his first hearing at the Fresno County Courthouse.
Les says he bears no ill will against the alleged shooter. "I have to look in my heart and forgive him for what he did to me. I'm blind for the rest of my life. I'm still living and I've got my health, I've got my wife and I'm good to go," said Les.
American Ambulance is also donating his rides to and from his appointments.