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Teenager Survives Shot To Head
posted (January 14, 2019)
Teenager Jahmeel Reyes is in an induced coma tonight and his family is anxious to find out if doctors can remove a bullet from his head. The 15 year old Roaring Creek resident was shot on Saturday evening around 4:00.

If that wasn't enough, his attacker then put a brutal beating on him and buried him alive. But, he made it out alive - even if just barely. Courtney Weatherburne has this remarkable tale of survival in the face of ruthless violence:

Courtney Weatherburne reporting
With a bullet to the head and his body severely bruised and buried, 15 year old Jamil Reyes dug through dirt, pulled himself out of a shallow grave and ran for help. The family is shocked he survived.

Deshawn Card, Aunt
"It's a miracle, God knows, he has his reason."

Reyes was attacked on Saturday evening as he walked to the Hattieville area creek in Roaring Creek. Resident Isidro Bol says he was heading to church around 3:30 when Reyes passed his house on the way to the creek.

Isidro Bol, Resident
"I saw the young man pass and he shouted at me good evening Mr. Bol and I saw him and I just gave him a thumbs up."

But somewhere down this narrow pathway, Reyes was beaten, shot and left for dead. After the vicious attack Reyes ran to Bol's house where they rushed him to the hospital.

Isidro Bol, Resident
"He said he just heard someone with a low voice calling my name Mr. Bol, Mr. Bol and we don't take things for granted around here, he looked around first where he heard the sound an when he reach there he saw the person on the ground asking for help and saying he got shot."

"Then him and his friend from Sandhill who was visiting both of them pick up the young man and put him in the car and took him to hospital."

No one knows exactly what happened and how it happened in these bushes. The family is still trying to figure out why.

Courtney Weatherburne, reporter
"You guys have no idea who would do such a gruesome thing to your nephew, a 15 year old boy, what problems could he possibly have been in?

Deshawn Card, Aunt
"We still don't understand, he called names to the persons that went to interview him and the family we don't want to get or give them a head start to do anything out of the way so we really don't want to mix ourselves with that. That is the police job to do."

"We are not sure what this is connected to, we are still trying to figure out what took place as we speak."

As they search for answers, they also have to focus on Reyes' condition. He is at the KHMH in an induced coma. The bullet is still lodged in his head.

Deshawn Card, Aunt
"We are asking everybody to please pray for him to pull through."

"Right now the mother called and she said the fever he had went down and that his head is still swollen and they are doing another cat scan to find out if he will be able to remove the bullet the bullet is this close to the back of his skull so they are trying to bring down the swelling to remove the bullet."

It's clear that, now, he'll need another miracle to survive.

When we called the family this evening, they said the cat scan was re-scheduled for tomorrow. Based on the results, the doctors will decide if they can operate on him and remove the bullet from the back of his head. The family is asking for assistance to pay for medical expenses. They will be hosting a fundraising event on Friday and Saturday and if anyone would want to assist they can call 600-4023.

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