Louise Russo talks with Hana Gartner about the night that changed her life forever.

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BIOGRAPHY: LOUSIE RUSSO

"I am the one with the life sentence. I'm sitting here and dealing with all this for the rest of my life. There is no justice ..."

In 2004, Louise Russo, 45, was a busy mother of three. Her life was full, taking care of Stephen, 19, Jenna, 17, and Krista, 15. Jenna was born with a rare genetic disorder and needs round-the-clock care. Jenna's condition motivated Louise to become an advocate for kids with special needs.

On April 21, 2004, she attended, as a member of the Special Education Advisory Committee for the Toronto Catholic School Board, a long meeting and was late picking up her daughter Krista from Air Cadets. She wanted to make it up to her daughter so they stopped off at California Sandwiches, an Italian sandwich shop, in North Toronto, at around 10:00 p.m. "Who would think that you're going to be in there 34 seconds and your whole life gets altered," says Louise.

Louise had just placed her order when bullets fired from a van outside riddled the sandwich shop. Louise had walked into a botched Mafia hit. A bullet fragment hit her spine. She is now paraplegic and is confined to a wheelchair. No one else was hurt.

Louise says she is in constant pain and struggles with painful muscle spasms. She says simple things in life are now a challenge. "My whole life has just been altered, just taking my little girl shopping with me, Jenna - I used to do so much with my special needs child on my own with her."

Five men eventually pleaded guilty to numerous charges relating to that night at the sandwich shop, including attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and gun- related offences. They were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 9-11 years. But, Louise says she is the one with the life sentence. "I'm sitting here and dealing with all this for the rest of my life. There is no justice ... there's no justice there," says Louise.

In a controversial deal worked out by prosecutors, police, and lawyers for the defence, Louise received $2 million in restitution; money that came directly from the convicted men. Louise says the money will cover only her future care, not her daughter's.

Louise refuses to dwell on the events of that night. She has become an advocate for victims' rights, having started the Louise Russo W.A.V.E (Walk Against Violence Everywhere). "What we're doing is we're giving awards out to young people who exemplify respect, responsibility, role of leadership and helping to end and curb the violence in the schools and the community," says Louise.

The next Louise Russo W.A.V.E. is scheduled for May 27, 2007.

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