After a few setbacks, Rivers Starkey is in critical condition, but stable as he continues to fight for his life.
Over the weekend, the 22-year-old had surgery to relieve the pressure in his head. Jeanna Starkey said the family is praying her son gets “over the hump” and recovers from surgery so that he can transfer to Shepherd Center in Atlanta within a week or two.
“He’s still critical,” Jeanna said. “He developed an infection in the brain, then caught pneumonia. It got a little sticky.”
The University of North Alabama senior was visiting the Navarre area over the Halloween weekend when he was shot several times on the night of Oct. 30.
Navarre resident, 59-year-old John Marshall Fitzgerald, is in custody, charged with attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon.
Before surgery, Rivers was able to convey emotions, although he could not talk due to the tracheostomy tube. His mom showed him the outpouring of love and prayers that have been shared on social media.
“For the first several days his eyes were opened, he could smile … there were tears,” Jeanna said.
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This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Navarre shooting victim continues fight for life