Former CNN Anchor and Reporter-Husband Describe Horror of Motel Attack

— -- Former CNN Headline News anchor Lynne Russell and her husband, former CNN investigative reporter Charles “Chuck” de Caro, spent their careers reporting the news, but they became the story during a stay at a New Mexico motel.

The couple had stopped for the night at a Motel 6 in Albuquerque June 30, 2015, while driving to California after seeing friends in the area. After a trip to the car for food for their dog, who was with them, Russell was followed by a gunman who forced himself into the room.

"This has been a very emotional thing," Russell, 69, told "Good Morning America" co-anchor Lara Spencer in an exclusive interview. "Even if you have to defend yourself and you do, you don’t just walk away from it. The whole rest of your life is changed. It just always is.

"He [my husband] absolutely is [my hero]," she added. "I couldn’t have been in better hands."

The gunman pushed Russell onto the bed, all while motel surveillance cameras rolled. At about that time, de Caro came out of the shower and surprised the alleged gunman, identified by police as Tomorio Walton.

Russell and de Caro both hold concealed carry licenses, and their weapons were in the motel room. Russell managed to slip her handgun to her husband, and when the suspect started shooting, de Caro – a former member of the U.S. Army Special Forces -- fired back, possibly saving his wife's life.

"It didn't have anything to do with being a hero," de Caro said. "It had to do with a promise I made when I married her. ... I take that part about have and to hold very seriously, better or worse very seriously. I didn't think it could get any worse and it did, that evening."

Walton was killed in the gunfight and his alleged accomplice, Skyy Barrs, was arrested. He pleaded not guilty to several felony charges that included kidnapping, aggravated burglary and attempted first-degree murder.

De Caro, 65, was shot three times and endured months of recovery and rehabilitation. Before leaving the hospital, he thanked the first responders whose quick response at the scene helped saved his life. “The response from this city that helped me in every way was just seamless and perfect,” he said at a news conference.

De Caro and his wife, of McLean, Virginia, have since sued Motel 6, as well as several individuals at the chain’s Albuquerque location where the incident occurred.

The lawsuit claims that Motel 6 and the other defendants failed to implement sufficient security measures to protect its guests and created a dangerous environment at the location despite “overwhelming evidence of danger.”

The court papers also claim that Walton had been on the motel’s property and visibly in possession of a weapon, but motel staffers weren’t paying attention.

According to the court papers filed last year -- which seek compensatory damages, among other costs -- Russell and de Caro claim the motel knew there were high rates of criminal activity there, which threatened guests’ safety.

In court papers, Motel 6 has denied any wrongdoing.

“We are aware of the lawsuit that has been filed in this matter," Motel 6 said in a statement to ABC News. "This was a very unfortunate incident and although we feel it would be inappropriate to comment or discuss this pending litigation, we did in fact have an armed security guard on duty, as well as surveillance cameras at this location at the time of this incident.”