JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The mother of a Mandarin High School student who was seriously injured in an apparent accidental shooting this weekend said her family is devastated and she is praying for a miracle as he remains in the ICU fighting for his life.
Mikah “Vegas” Howell, 17, was injured Saturday in what the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is investigating as an “accidental shooting.”
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On Wednesday, in a long Facebook post under a News4JAX story, his mother, Jessica Mcphee said the incident changed their lives forever and gave an update on her son’s condition.
“The bullet cannot be removed, and right now we do not know what the future holds. Every day is uncertain. Every hour is a waiting game. We are taking things one moment at a time, praying for healing, strength, and a miracle,” Mcphee wrote. “Our family is devastated, but we are standing strong beside him as he fights. We are asking our community for prayers, support, and help bringing awareness to the devastating impact of gun violence.”
In a Wednesday afternoon Facebook post, Mcphee said Howell had to be placed in a medically induced coma.
There are still unanswered questions about the incident.
News4JAX obtained the incident report, but it does not contain details about what happened, and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office did not hold a media briefing after Howell was found with a gunshot wound to his head. JSO has not released any additional information about the incident, and Mcphee is asking anyone with information to come forward “so our family can get answers and justice.”
Mcphee said Howell is a student in the Cambridge AICE Program with dreams of attending the University of Central Florida and becoming a Civil Engineer specializing in Urban Planning and Development and is intelligent, driven, and determined.
“But what makes Mikah truly special is his heart,” she wrote. “He has a way of making every person feel important, like they are the only person in the room. He is kind, loving, compassionate, and fearless.”
She thanked the community for its prayers and the nearly $7,000 that has been donated as of Wednesday.
Howell is one of two teens who were accidentally shot this week.
Another Jacksonville teen was in critical condition after suffering a gunshot wound to her head in an “accidental incident” early Monday morning, JSO said. Investigators said the suspect and the teen know each other and the incident “appears to be an accident.”