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Man Shot Five Times By Police Posts Inspirational Video Showing Him Learning To Walk Again With Help From His Young Son

Leon Ford Jr., 21, was shot by Pittsburgh police in 2013 after he was mistakenly thought to be a gang member.

In a story that’s as heartbreaking as it is inspirational, a Pittsburgh man is recovering from being shot five times by police.

Leon Ford Jr., 21, was found not guilty of aggravated assault at a trial last September and has since been defying the impossible. Doctors told him he would never walk again, but that may be changing, quickly.

Ford was paralyzed after being shot by a Pittsburgh police officer during a traffic stop, according to WTAE. He reportedly ran a stop sign in 2013, and a struggle broke out after officers mistakenly believed the man was a wanted gang member.

He recently released video of himself walking, walker-assisted, alongside his son, who also tried to keep his dad upright.

On Instagram, The Shade Room posted the now-viral video with the caption, “When you get shot by a police officer 5 times — and docs say that you will never walk but your son says keep pushing.” Via the original video Leon Ford posted, he went a little more in-depth about what happened.

“My son is hands down my biggest motivation,” he wrote. “Quality time with your children is the most valuable investment — and for me it is paying off. Secondly, the world may seem hopeless. However, hope is thriving, surviving and present in our daily lives.

“I walked to the little league football game and I literally seen a burst of hope, inspiration and positivity just from the sight of me standing — it was amazing,” he continued. “So if you want to change the world it's simple — be positive and show up!”

Ford’s attorney is glad the assault charges were dropped, however, he’s fighting to get him fully cleared from the incident. Leon currently faces charges of resisting arrest, escape and reckless endangerment.

"We all are very elated and pleased that the district attorney did the right thing," said Fred Rabner, Ford’s lawyer.

"It's good the DA isn't going to retry Leon Ford, but he shouldn't have been charged in the first place," Constance Parker, president of the Pittsburgh chapter of the NAACP, remarked after the verdict. "I admire Leon Ford for being able to smile through it all after what happened. This young man's life is and will be forever changed by what happened."

See inspirational video of Leon Ford Jr. walking with his son below.

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