Tremont artist shot in attempted holdup speaks out

CLEVELAND - "I thought I saw the light and it was neon," said noted neon artist Jeffry Chiplis recounting what was going through his head early June 12.

That was the day that Chiplis was shot in an attempted holdup while walking from Tremont to the Flats.

Chiplis was walking down the long series of hills to "Pats" for a drink when he noticed two men behind him, so he began a slow trot.

He heard the men ask for his cell phone and wallet and told them the cell phone was a piece of junk and he didn't have a wallet, then he took off running.

As they ran after him, they again told him to give them his money and cell phone. 

"I'm like no, I don't want to give them to you," recalled Chiplis.  "So I just started running down the hill."

As he ran he saw them flash their guns which he could tell were small caliber. 

"So I just started running harder and then I hear click, click, click, bang and I'm like ow."

He continued to run when he heard again, click, click, click bang.  That was when he went down and thought his life might be ending. He was able to call 911 for help and was rushed to MetroHealth Medical Center.

Chiplis has lived in Tremont for 30 years and remains one of its biggest supporters. 

"I think it's a great place to live," he said. "Any city you go to you have to be aware of your surroundings. If you're going to be walking around with your head in the sky and you know, not paying attention to what's going on, things happen, and it can happen anywhere. It just so happened that it was my time."

Asked to comment on his attackers Chiplis responded, "my thoughts of them? I don't really regard them as human beings."

Chiplis looks forward to getting back to work. He has two shows open now, one in Youngstown the other in Columbus that runs through July 10.

The support has been his biggest booster on this road to recovery.

"All the people that came from all the different places from all over the world to show their love and support for me.  Really that was the inspiration," Chiplis said.