“I’m just thankful he’s alive,” Brian Carter expressed, reflecting on his son’s incredible survival after being shot up close while in Birmingham, Alabama for football training.
It was Saturday evening, July 12th, when 18-year-old Ethan Carter, a rising star in Michigan high school football and a recent graduate of Hudsonville High School, was attacked. According to Birmingham Police, a firearm transaction established through Snapchat turned into a robbery that left Carter with serious injuries.
Carter recounted his ordeal, stating that he didn’t realize he had been shot until blood began to flow. “It felt like someone delivered a heavy, knockout punch. Then I noticed blood streaming down. So, yeah, I was actually shot,” he said.
His father revealed that Ethan suffered injuries to his head, hands, arm, and neck, with doctors indicating, quite remarkably, that his injuries weren’t fatal, considering the gunman fired 24 rounds from just five feet away. “The doctors mentioned that no one normally survives being shot that close,” Brian Carter remarked.
After he was shot, Ethan managed to escape the car and collapsed in the grass, where neighbors hurried to assist him. A witness, Corey Jackson, and her family quickly grabbed towels to help stem the bleeding and stayed with him until help arrived.
“We grabbed a towel and applied it to his head and neck while my fiancé made sure his heart was still beating,” Jackson said.
Birmingham police have reiterated warnings regarding the hazards of firearm transactions via social media, cautioning the public against such dangerous dealings that can lead to violence.
Carter was discharged from UAB Hospital on Tuesday and returned to Michigan for recovery. He expressed gratitude for his survival and noted that his faith plays a crucial role in his perspective. “I’m thankful to God for this situation. I know He’s there for me, even if the path ahead seems dark,” he mentioned.
Authorities reported that the suspect fled in Carter’s vehicle, which was later discovered burned. As of now, no arrests have been made.
