'There is hope': Milwaukee man shot in the face lives to tell his story

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A Milwaukee man was shot in the face and survived. Claudiare Motley continues to share his story with the world. He hopes to be a voice for other victims and also encourage people to put the guns down.

It was June 21, 2014.

"As I took off, he shot, I didn't know what happened," Claudiare Motley said.

Motley was dropping off a friend near 63rd and Capitol. He didn't pull off right away and waited to make sure his friend got inside safely. Those few seconds cost him. Two cars were able to corner him in.

"I realized something was wrong because all three of the individuals who were in the car next me turned their head real quick. I saw the gap between the two cars and I was like I am going to drive through." 

The suspect tapped on the window with his gun, firing one shot before Motley escaped.

"I looked down and saw all the blood rushing, so my first thoughts were where I got to go, and drove around a little bit, get woozy from the loss of blood." 

He drove himself to the hospital.

Police learned 15-year-old Nathan King was the shooter. King attempted to rob a woman. This time she had a gun. She shot King, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down.

In July 2016, he was sentenced to 12 years in prison at 16 years old for attempting to steal Motley's car and shooting him in the face.

CBS 58's Winnie Dortch: "Have you forgiven Nate? 

Motley: "Yes, absolutely. Nate was a child."

Motley knew his story needed to be told on a bigger platform. It's now a documentary called "When Claude Got Shot".

"The violence and anguish that ripples through the community every time someone gets shot, that is something I am happy to share that people can relate to and people can actually motivate people to say -- what do we need to do to try to stem this epidemic." 

Eight years later and Motley says gun violence is still tearing families to pieces.

"It's absolutely frustrating...The actual issues are not being addressed that's allowing this to actually be curbed. What makes a child pick up a gun." 

Motley wants the community to know he's doing his part by sharing his story and investing time in young people and programs.

'There is hope."