The 22-year-old ex-girlfriend of a major league star is left fighting for her life after being dragged under a car for two blocks in a hit-and-run scare while hiding from gunfire in St.

The 22-year-old ex-girlfriend of a major league star is left fighting for her life after being dragged under a car for two blocks in a hit-and-run scare while hiding from gunfire in St.


The ex-boyfriend of an American football star is fighting for his life following a horrific hit-and-run after he was caught in a shootout on the streets of St.

Ellie Bentley, 22, finally regained consciousness on Saturday after spending two weeks in the intensive care unit (ICU) following the incident at 3am on February 25.

The British woman, who moved to the United States last year with her then-boyfriend Indiana Vassilev, he was getting out of his car when the gun battle broke out.

Bentley ran and hid under a nearby car when shots started flying in the Grove neighborhood of St.

But unbeknownst to him, the car he was looking for shelter had a male driver escaping with the intention of avoiding the disaster.

Ellie Bentley, 22, from England was involved in a horrific hit and run incident in St. Louis, Missouri, after being caught in a gunfight in February.

Bentley's ex-boyfriend was Indiana Vassilev, pictured, who joined MLS club St.  Louis FC.  He previously played for Aston Villa

Bentley’s ex-boyfriend was Indiana Vassilev, pictured, who joined MLS club St. Louis FC. He previously played for Aston Villa

Bullets started flying in the eclectic Grove neighborhood of St

Bullets started flying in the eclectic Grove neighborhood of St

Police responded to the scene on February 25 at 2:52 a.m. following reports of shots fired, after a group reportedly tried to get into the wrong vehicle.

The confusion led to 35-year-old Andre T. Wilson allegedly opening fire on the group, hitting a 25-year-old man five times in the chest, according to Wilson’s arrest affidavit reported by First Alert4.

Wilson then allegedly fled the scene on foot, while the victim was rushed to hospital in critical but stable condition.

Meanwhile, witnesses reportedly flagged down responding officers after the Bentley hit and run, before being dragged several blocks down the street.

The alleged driver of the vehicle was quickly identified as Dionte Taylor, 25, who has been charged with leaving the scene of an accident causing bodily injury.

Prosecutors then charged Wilson a week after the shooting with first-degree assault, criminal possession of a weapon, unlawful use of a weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm. He is being held without bond.

Bentley was rushed to hospital with broken legs and arms and was in intensive care for two weeks, before being released on Saturday.

He has since undergone a fifth major surgery and will have additional surgeries in the near future.

His family has since traveled from England to be near him as he continues to recover, with a GoFundMe page has been set up to help pay for medical expenses.

On the night Bentley was injured, Andre T. Wilson (pictured), 35, allegedly opened fire on the group as they tried to get into the wrong car.  As Bentley ran for cover, the shot caused another driver to speed down and hit him, leaving him injured on the road.

On the night Bentley was injured, Andre T. Wilson (pictured), 35, allegedly opened fire on the group as they tried to get into the wrong car. As Bentley ran for cover, the shot caused another driver to speed down and hit him, leaving him injured on the road.

Dionte Taylor, 25, has been charged after allegedly hitting Bentley as he fled the scene of the shooting.

Dionte Taylor, 25, has been charged after allegedly hitting Bentley as he fled the scene of the shooting.

Bentley was dragged under the car for two blocks;  had moved to the United States with his girlfriend at the time, Indiana Vassilev, who played for St.  Louis FC

Bentley was dragged under the car for two blocks; had moved to the United States with his girlfriend at the time, Indiana Vassilev, who played for St. Louis FC

Ellie Bentley had recently graduated from York University with a degree in mathematics and physics

Ellie Bentley had recently graduated from York University with a degree in mathematics and physics

The 22-year-old had moved to the United States with his Premier League star boyfriend.  Although they seem to be no longer together, he remained in St

The 22-year-old had moved to the United States with his Premier League star boyfriend. Although they seem to be no longer together, he remained in St

However, his lawyer, Ben Tobin, said his road to recovery will be long.

“He had just got out of the car when the shooting started,” he explained Know.

‘He ducked behind another car until the shooting stopped, but the man whose car he was hiding behind hit the floor, hit him, chased him and dragged him several meters.’

Tobin said Bentley had no connection to either party involved in the shooting and was an accidental bystander.

“He was sure he was going to die as he was being dragged under the car,” he said.

“The whole time, he was lying there trying to hold on and do whatever he could to not end up getting kicked under the wheel.”

Tobin noted how video footage appeared to show the driver who hit the Bentley was well aware of his presence when he fled the scene, running him over in the process.

“Based on the video, there’s no way for the person who hit her and chased her and dragged her to argue that she didn’t know she was under the car when she left,” he said.

A witness to the horrific incident, Mollie Schwein, said she was woken by screams in the early hours of the morning from outside her nearby home.

“I heard him shout, ‘I’ve been shot’, and it was true,” he said First Alert4.

Schwein added that he heard several women screaming in the street when police arrived at the shooting, and another witness said they saw employees at a nearby bar running to help Bentley on the street.

When Bentley got caught up in the fight, he was underneath a nearby car and was injured when the driver took off and dragged him to the side of the road for two blocks.

When Bentley got caught up in the fight, he was underneath a nearby car and was injured when the driver took off and dragged him to the side of the road for two blocks.

'Like many 22-year-olds, I enjoyed dancing, going to the gym, and yoga, and spent two to three hours a day on fitness.  Now I can't move my legs or my right arm,' Bentley said in a statement through his lawyer

‘Like many 22-year-olds, I enjoyed dancing, going to the gym, and yoga, and spent two to three hours a day on fitness. Now I can’t move my legs or my right arm,’ Bentley said in a statement through his lawyer

Vassilev, originally from Savannah, Georgia, played two seasons with Inter Miami

He signed with St.  Louis City in 2023

Vassilev, who hails from Savannah, Georgia, played two seasons with Inter Miami before signing with St. Louis City in 2023.

Bentley, originally from Bingham, east of Nottingham, moved to Missouri last year when Vassilev, 23, joined MLS club St. Louis FC.

When he moved, he shared on the Facebook group Brits moving to America that he was ‘looking for a place in St Louis,’ and was being helped with his visa documents by his girlfriend’s football club.

He said at the time he was looking for a position in a ‘university, non-profit or government research field’. On his GoFundMe, it was said that he had a work visa, however it is not known where he started working.

Vassilev, who hails from Savannah, Georgia, signed for Villa from 2020 but made just four appearances for the club after being loaned out to Burton Albion and then Cheltenham Town.

He finally returned to the United States in 2021 playing two seasons with Inter Miami before signing with St. Louis City last year.

Bentley, meanwhile, graduated last summer from York University with a degree in mathematics and physics.

‘Like many 22-year-olds, I enjoyed dancing, going to the gym, and yoga, and spent two to three hours a day on fitness. Now I can’t move my legs or my right arm,’ Bentley said in a statement through his lawyer.