A 46-year-old New Windsor mother is speaking exclusively to News 12 after surviving a fatal shooting inside Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital in Newburgh late Thursday night.

Police say the chaos began around 11 p.m. when 45-year-old Carlos Ortiz, of Newburgh, allegedly pulled a fire alarm inside the emergency room lobby. According to investigators, Ortiz then brandished a knife and attacked a hospital security guard. A second armed security officer fired a single shot, killing Ortiz.

A woman standing nearby, who identified herself as Chamika Hathurusinghe, was also struck by the gunfire.

Hathurusinghe told News 12 by phone she and her husband were trying to leave the building after security told everyone to evacuate due to the alarm. She says the struggle between Ortiz and security erupted within seconds.

“I thought they would fall into my body... and at the same time I feel my left leg got huge numbness,” she said.

Hathurusinghe says she immediately realized she and Ortiz had both been shot.

“I see a gentleman laying on the floor in blood,” she recalled.

She told News 12 she begged for help, but the chaos made it difficult for anyone to realize she was wounded.

“I was screaming my leg hurts... but they didn’t care,” she said.

Hathurusinghe was still at the hospital Friday morning, awaiting surgery to remove the bullet.

“If I don’t at least slightly stand up, I definitely would have lost my life too. It’s very hard for me to recover from that feeling,” she said.

Hospital officials released a statement Friday, saying:

“Following an overnight incident, a police investigation took place at Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall. Our foremost responsibility is, and will always be, to provide a safe, secure, and healing environment for our patients, staff, and community. We are grateful to our Public Safety and Security Team, as well as the City of Newburgh Police Department, for their ongoing dedication to safety and their swift, professional response in protecting our staff and our community.”

The hospital says it remains open and fully operational.

Hathurusinghe says despite her recovery, she won’t be returning to the hospital anytime soon.

“Never. Never,” she said.

Police say they are interviewing witnesses and reviewing hospital surveillance video. No charges have been filed.

Anyone with information is asked to call Newburgh detectives at 845-569-7519.