Guitar legend Jake E. Lee, known for his iconic work with Ozzy Osbourne during the 1980s, is continuing his journey of physical and emotional recovery after a terrifying shooting incident last fall. In a candid new interview with **Jim Florentine and Jim Norton** on *SiriusXM’s Ozzy’s Boneyard*, Lee reflected on the traumatic event that nearly took his life, his slow but determined healing, and how music — and life — are gradually returning to form.
“All the Fingers Still Move”
The former Ozzy guitarist, who famously played on **1983’s *Bark at the Moon*** and **1986’s *The Ultimate Sin***, revealed that his return to the guitar was already in progress when fate threw him another challenge.
> “I hadn’t been playing guitar for a couple of years because this wrist was killing me,” Lee explained. “Arthritis — no cartilage left. It was bone on bone. But I was doing rehab. It was getting better. Then I walked my dog that night… and got shot.”
The shocking incident occurred on **October 15, 2024**, around 2:40 a.m. near his home in Las Vegas. Lee had taken his dog Coco out for a walk when he encountered two suspicious individuals. Moments later, he was struck by three bullets — one through the forearm, one in the foot, and one in the back, which broke a rib and partially damaged a lung.
“I quickly realized he wasn’t aiming at me. He was aiming at my dog,” Lee recalled. “I threw my end of the leash and yelled at Coco to go home. He did. He’s a good boy.”
Despite being seriously injured, Lee miraculously avoided damage to any vital organs — and perhaps more incredibly, to his hands.
> “All the fingers still move,” he said with a smile.
“I Don’t Want to Dwell on It”
When asked whether the near-death experience changed his outlook on life, Lee admitted, “A little bit… but I don’t want to think about it.”
> “I dwelled on it a little after I got shot, and then I realized it wasn’t healthy,” he said. “The world got darker, more dangerous, not as fun after that night. But since then, I’ve tried not to think about it too much. And the world’s getting back to where I can enjoy it.”
Justice and Closure
Last month, Lee announced that the two men who allegedly shot him had been **arrested** and are expected to be **sentenced later this month**. The attack — which happened after Lee tried to deter the suspects from loitering near a neighbor’s motorcycle — quickly escalated from confrontation to gunfire.
> “They told me to f\*\*\* off. But they were obviously more scared of my 80-pound pitbull than me — an old guy in a bright Hawaiian shirt,” he joked.
Neighbors played a critical role in the aftermath. A nearby resident, hearing the gunshots, hid his children, grabbed his own weapon, and called 911. Police recovered **15 shell casings** at the scene — a chilling reminder of just how close Lee came to tragedy.
A Return to the Stage — and Brotherhood
Despite the pain, Jake E. Lee is not just surviving — he’s **thriving once again** on stage. Earlier this month, he made a surprise appearance at the **“Back to the Beginning” concert** at Villa Park in Birmingham, joining the all-star tribute to Ozzy Osbourne’s final live performance. Lee played spirited renditions of “Shot in the Dark” and “The Ultimate Sin,” reminding fans and peers alike that his fire still burns strong.
His presence at the show was particularly emotional, given that he and Ozzy had not seen each other in 37 years. After hearing about the shooting, Ozzy released a heartfelt statement:
> “It’s just another senseless act of gun violence. I send my thoughts to him and his beautiful daughter, Jade. I just hope he’ll be OK.”
From the Shadows, Into the Light
Lee’s musical legacy stretches beyond Ozzy — he later fronted **Badlands**, released solo records like *Retraced* and *Guitar Warrior*, and returned to public life with **Red Dragon Cartel**, releasing two albums between 2013 and 2018.
His quiet years in between were marked by personal reflection and a gradual re-emergence into a changing music world. Now, having survived a harrowing attack and pushing through chronic pain, Jake E. Lee is back — not just in body, but in spirit.
> “The world’s getting back to where I can enjoy it,” he said — and fans everywhere are breathing a sigh of relief.
As his fingers once again find their way around the fretboard, Jake E. Lee’s story serves as a powerful reminder: even in the face of violence, fear, and pain, the music — and the man — play on.
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