A 16-year-old high school student who was shot by a classmate is out of the Intensive Care Unit — and one of the first things he did since regaining consciousness was ask for prayers for the boy who put him in the hospital.
#LATEST Family members sat #WestLiberty #Schoolshooting victim Logan Cole out of ICU https://t.co/YUQcXeIUTJ pic.twitter.com/k01hlmBvsa
— WHIOTV (@whiotv) January 22, 2017
Logan Cole was shot and critically injured by a classmate who opened fire at West Liberty High School in Ohio Friday morning. Cole was reportedly hit several times and has suffered numerous injuries throughout his body, including damage to his spinal column and lungs. By the weekend, Cole’s family had reported that he was out of the ICU and talking — and had asked that his family pray for the shooter, who has been identified as 17-year-old Ely Serna.
Cole’s family had already asked for prayers for the shooter, in a statement released on Friday afternoon:
We are thankful for the Lord’s protective hand on our son. We are also grateful for the outpouring of support from our family, friends, and community. We would like to ask for continued prayers for Logan. Also, we’d like to encourage prayer for the community, the other student, and his family. We are certain they have been deeply hurt as well. We are confident that God has a purpose and plan through this tragedy.
Champaign County Sheriff Matthew Melvin told the Journal-News that Cole was not the shooter’s intended target, and that the student had in fact been hoping to harm more people. Only one other student, who has not been named, was reportedly hit, and suffered non-life threatening injuries.
Serna is expected to be tried as an adult.
