The ex-girlfriend of an American soccer star is preventing for her life following a hit-and-run after being caught up within the crossfire of a shootout on the streets of St. Louis.
Ellie Bentley, 22, lastly regained consciousness on Saturday after spending two weeks within the ICU following the horror incident at 3am on February 25.
The British girl, who moved to the US final 12 months together with her then-boyfriend Indiana Vassilev, was exiting her automotive when a gun battle broke out.
Bentley dashed for canopy and hid beneath a close-by automobile because the bullets started to fly within the eclectic Grove neighborhood of St. Louis.
However unbeknownst to her, the automotive she was looking for refuge underneath was occupied with the male driver making getaway in a bid to flee the pandemonium.
![Ellie Bentley, 22, from England was involved in a life-threatening hit-and-run incident in St. Louis, Missouri, after getting caught up in a gun battle in February](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/12/02/82341655-13185363-image-a-78_1710211370479.jpg)
Ellie Bentley, 22, from England was concerned in a life-threatening hit-and-run incident in St. Louis, Missouri, after getting caught up in a gun battle in February
![Bentley's ex-boyfriend was Indiana Vassilev, pictured, who joined MLS side St. Louis FC. He had previously played with Aston Villa](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/12/02/82341673-13185363-image-a-82_1710211435434.jpg)
Bentley’s ex-boyfriend was Indiana Vassilev, pictured, who joined MLS facet St. Louis FC. He had beforehand performed with Aston Villa
![The bullets began to fly in the eclectic Grove neighborhood of St. Louis](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/12/02/82344737-13185363-The_bullets_began_to_fly_in_the_eclectic_Grove_neighborhood_of_S-m-86_1710211565771.jpg)
The bullets started to fly within the eclectic Grove neighborhood of St. Louis
Bentley was struck because the automobile took off, dragging her alongside the street for 2 blocks.
She was rushed to hospital having suffered a number of damaged limbs and was positioned in intensive care for 2 weeks earlier than lastly being launched on Saturday.
Bentley has since undergone 5 main reconstructive surgical procedures and can have further operations within the close to future.
Her lawyer, Ben Tobin, mentioned her path to restoration will probably be a protracted one.
‘She had simply gotten out of a automotive when the capturing began,’ he defined to The Solar.
‘She ducked down behind one other automobile till the capturing stopped, however then the individual whose automotive she was hiding behind floored it, hit her, ran her over, and dragged her for a few blocks.’
![Bentley was dragged under a car for two blocks; she had moved to the US with her then-boyfriend, Indiana Vassilev, who played for St. Louis FC](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/12/02/82341661-13185363-Bentley_was_dragged_under_a_car_for_two_blocks_she_had_moved_to_-m-87_1710211585057.jpg)
Bentley was dragged underneath a automotive for 2 blocks; she had moved to the US together with her then-boyfriend, Indiana Vassilev, who performed for St. Louis FC
![Ellie Bentley had recently graduated from the University of York with a degree in maths and physics](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/12/02/82341657-13185363-image-m-81_1710211415001.jpg)
Ellie Bentley had just lately graduated from the College of York with a level in maths and physics
Tobin mentioned Bentley had no connection to both social gathering concerned within the capturing and was merely an unlucky bystander.
‘She was fairly certain she was going to die as she was dragged beneath the automobile,’ he mentioned.
‘For the whole time, she was mendacity there making an attempt to carry on and do no matter she might so she did not find yourself getting kicked out underneath the wheel.’
Tobin famous how video footage appeared to indicate the motive force who hit Bentley was nicely conscious of her presence when he fled the scene, working her over within the course of.
‘Based mostly on the video, there isn’t any method for the person who hit her and ran her over and dragged her to argue that he didn’t know that she was beneath the automobile when he took off,’ he mentioned.
Police responded to the scene following experiences {that a} group had been trying to get into the flawed automotive – which led to the capturing.
![Caught up in the crossfire, Bentley his underneath a nearby car and was injured when the driver took off and dragged her along the road for two blocks](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/12/02/82341667-13185363-image-a-84_1710211453413.jpg)
Caught up within the crossfire, Bentley his beneath a close-by automotive and was injured when the motive force took off and dragged her alongside the street for 2 blocks
!['Like most 22-year-olds, I enjoyed dance, going to the gym, and yoga, and devoted two-to-three hours a day to physical fitness. Now I can't move my legs or my right arm,' Bentley said in a statement through her lawyer](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/12/02/82341665-13185363-_Like_most_22_year_olds_I_enjoyed_dance_going_to_the_gym_and_yog-m-88_1710211780301.jpg)
‘Like most 22-year-olds, I loved dance, going to the gymnasium, and yoga, and devoted two-to-three hours a day to bodily health. Now I am unable to transfer my legs or my proper arm,’ Bentley mentioned in an announcement by way of her lawyer
Police say a 35-year-old man fired photographs, injuring a 25-year-old man who was rushed to hospital with gunshot wounds.
Bentley was injured by a separate automotive, pushed by one other 25-year-old man, who fled as soon as the capturing began.
Whereas the hit-and-run driver has been apprehended, the capturing suspect stays at massive.
Bentley, initially from Bingham, east of Nottingham, moved to Missouri final 12 months when Vassilev, 23, joined MLS facet St. Louis FC.
![Vassilev, originally from Savannah, Georgia, played two seasons with Inter Miami](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/12/02/82341671-13185363-Vassilev_originally_from_Savannah_Georgia_played_two_seasons_wit-m-94_1710212307910.jpg)
![He signed with St. Louis City in 2023](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/12/02/82341679-13185363-He_signed_with_St_Louis_City_in_2023-a-95_1710212339171.jpg)
Vassilev, initially from Savannah, Georgia, performed two seasons with Inter Miami earlier than signing with St. Louis Metropolis in 2023
Vassilev, initially from Savannah, Georgia, signed with Villa from in 2020 however solely made 4 appearances with the group having been launched on mortgage to play for Burton Albion after which Cheltenham City.
He lastly made a return to the States in 2021 taking part in two seasons with Inter Miami earlier than signing with St. Louis Metropolis final 12 months.
Bentley, in the meantime, graduated final summer season from the College of York with a level in arithmetic and physics.
‘Like most 22-year-olds, I loved dance, going to the gymnasium, and yoga, and devoted two-to-three hours a day to bodily health. Now I am unable to transfer my legs or my proper arm,’ Bentley mentioned in an announcement by way of her lawyer.
Her household has since traveled from the UK to be by her facet as she continues to make a restoration, with a GoFundMe web page set as much as assist pay for mounting medical bills.
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