A GoFundMe has been raising money for a Mandarin High School student who was seriously injured in an apparent accident shooting this weekend. Micah “Vegas” Howell on Saturday at “accidental shootingThe Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is investigating, News4JAX reported.
The events leading up to the shooting are unclear. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office did not hold a media briefing after Howell was found with a gunshot wound to the head.
Howell’s mother, Jessica McPhee, who disclosed her son’s condition on social media, said the teen was a student in Cambridge’s AICE program and dreamed of attending the University of Central Florida and becoming a civil engineer specializing in urban planning and development.
Micah Howell GoFundMe
this to fund me A campaign launched for Howell said he was now fighting for his life after suffering a devastation. Traumatic brain injury On June 6, the page described Howell as “a scholar and dedicated football player at Mandarin High School known for his passion on and off the field.”
“Now more than ever, Micah and his family need the support of ‘The Village’. His mother is with him in the intensive care unit and is unable to work as she focuses on Micah’s recovery. The uncertainty and emotional toll are immense, and as medical bills and living expenses pile up, so does the financial stress,” the page reads.
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The GoFundMe goal is to raise $14,000.
McPhee addressed her son’s condition in a Facebook comment, writing: “The bullet cannot be removed and now we don’t know what the future holds. Every day is filled with uncertainty. Every hour is a waiting game. We are taking things one step at a time and praying for healing, strength and miracles.”
“He had a way of making everyone feel important, as if they were the only person in the room. He was kind, loving, compassionate, and fearless. He lit up every room he walked into and made people smile wherever he went. He loved being around people and genuinely loved making others feel seen, valued and cared about,” his mother said of him.
McPhee added: “As his mother, I have watched him grow into an incredible young man. He is smarter than his peers, a natural problem solver who never gives up when faced with a challenge. If he wants to learn, solve or accomplish something, he will apply himself until he succeeds. He is not your average teenager. He has big dreams, a bright future and a lot of life left to live.”
Mcphee has been sharing updates on Facebook. In a touching post, she urged everyone to hug their children and tell them how much they are loved.
“I never imagined that one day I would be sitting next to my son’s hospital bed, hoping to hear his voice, see his smile, or feel his arms wrap around me again. Tomorrow is not guaranteed. Nor is the next hour. Life can change in the blink of an eye,” she wrote.
“Make the most of every second you have. Put down your phone. Take extra time. Go to a football game. Take a family photo. Say ‘I love you’ one more time. Put the little things aside because one day you may find yourself wishing you could just live one more mundane moment,” she said, adding that she hopes everyone can raise awareness about “gun safety and gun education.”
