I Was Shot & Paralyzed — Then Survived Arizona’s Most Dangerous Prisons | Ernie Leon

Locked In with Ian Bick

Ian Bick

Society & Culture

4.8 • 745 Ratings

🗓️ 1 January 2026

⏱️ 81 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Ernie Leon shares a story of survival, violence, and redemption. Growing up in Arizona, Ernie fell into addiction and gang life at a young age, which led to an armed robbery conviction and time in the Arizona prison system. After getting into trouble behind the walls, he was sent to maximum-security prison, where survival became a daily battle. Following his release, tragedy struck when Ernie witnessed his brother get shot and killed, and Ernie himself was shot and paralyzed. Despite everything, he was later sent back to Arizona max prison on another armed robbery case. In this conversation, Ernie breaks down the realities of Arizona maximum-security prisons, the consequences of street life, and what it takes to keep going after losing everything. _____________________________________________ #PrisonSurvival #TrueCrimeStories #MaximumSecurityPrison #ArizonaPrison #LifeAfterPrison #SurvivalStory #PrisonLife #RedemptionStory _____________________________________________ Connect with Ernie Leon: YouTube Channel: @ErnieLeon-vh9eu Facebook: Ernie Leon Instagram: erni.eleon1983 TikTok: @ernie.leon07 _____________________________________________ Hosted, Executive Produced & Edited By Ian Bick: https://www.instagram.com/ian_bick/?hl=en https://ianbick.com/ Shop Locked In Merch: http://www.ianbick.com/shop _____________________________________________ Timestamps: 00:00 Intro: Ernie’s Life, Crime & Consequences 03:34 Growing Up in South Phoenix: Violence, Poverty & Survival 06:00 Family Trauma, Addiction & Early Warning Signs 09:17 Gang Life, Street Loyalty & Losing Loved Ones 13:13 First Prison Sentence: Entering the System 17:38 Racial Politics & Survival Inside Prison 22:00 Prison Gangs, Violence & Daily Threats 25:45 Life in Special Management Units (SMU) 30:36 Release From Prison, Family Pressure & Relapse 35:35 Trying to Save His Brother & Returning to the Streets 40:44 The Night Everything Changed: The Shooting 45:39 Aftermath of the Shooting: Loss, Paralysis & Trauma 50:07 Arrested Again: Facing the System Once More 54:48 Going Back to Prison While Paralyzed 01:01:41 Identity, Loyalty & Reality Behind Bars 01:07:02 Hitting Rock Bottom & Finding Faith 01:11:20 Getting Sober & Choosing a Different Life 01:14:34 Life After Prison: Recovery, Setbacks & Struggles 01:16:43 Lessons Learned & Advice to His Younger Self 01:17:38 Final Thoughts, Redemption & Closing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Listen up.
0:01.0	Huh? That means you.
0:02.0	Yes, you. We know you're pointing at yourself. When it comes to Paddy Power Games, we've got a place made for all sorts. From the experts to the Drama Queens. It's me, the JC. The finance bros. Look at those stocks, lads. We'll stick with slots. It's what we're good at. And not forgetting you. Yes, you, the one listening.
0:21.5	Because at Paddy Power Games, we've got all sorts of games for all sorts of trickles. Eligibility rules in terms of conditions apply. Please gamble responsibly. Ate plus gambolow air. They kill my brother, shot him in the head, and then I get hit. How do you feel in that moment doing that? and I pulled it to his dome, you know, and I pelt him for all his goals.
0:38.4	What's it like going in there paralyzed?
0:40.1	I smashed dude in the bunks. How do you feel in that moment doing that? And I pulled it to his dome, you know, and I pelt him for all his goals.
0:38.5	What's it like going in there paralyzed?
0:40.1	I smashed dude in the bunks once they cut the light off.
0:42.6	Ernie Leon grew up in Arizona, fell into gang life and addiction, and was sent to maximum security prison.
0:49.0	Then everything got worse when he was shot, paralyzed, and sent back to an Arizona max security prison.
0:58.8	Ernie, welcome to Lockton, man.
1:00.3	Thanks so much for coming out here today.
1:01.9	Thank you for having me in.
1:03.0	Man, I really appreciate it, man.
1:04.4	I love the name Ernie.
1:06.5	Man, I don't know if I ever liked it, but that was my dad's name, man.
1:09.1	We just had an Ernie, I think, on the show a couple weeks ago.
1:11.6	Oh, man, not this Ernie.
1:13.0	No, no, not this Ernie.
1:14.5	No, no, no, definitely a different Ernie. But we appreciate you and your friends out there making the trip out here today. Actually, those are my sons. Oh, those are your sons? Yeah, those are both my sons. I had no idea those are your sons.
1:24.3	Yeah, they're pretty bigger to me.
1:26.5	Oh, that's so cool, a little family trip.
	...

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