WLBT 3 - Jackson, MS: Shooting victim beats the odds

Shooting victim beats the odds

By Cheryl Lasseter - bio | email

JACKSON, MS (WLBT) - It's a miracle that 21-year-old Darrell Blair can smile, pull up from his wheelchair, and greet his family outside University Rehabilitation Center Saturday morning. Just seven weeks ago, he was on life support.

Blair is heading home to Lexington after two months in the hospital and inpatient rehabilitation. "Pain. Medications. Pills. Training," he says of the last two months.

Blair's family is ready to celebrate, holding signs of welcome as he wheels toward them in the Center's parking lot.

On May 22, Blair was shot once in the head as he sat in his girlfriend's home in Holmes County. Sammy, Eris, David and Charles Moore have all been arrested for the crime. The family believes Charles was the triggerman.

We asked Blair what he believes was the reason for the shooting.  "Cuz of a girl," he says. 

Blair's mother, Charlotte, was told if her son lived he wouldn't be able to think, speak or move. But he's shattered that myth, with only a few setbacks. "It affected his memory. He can't remember the things that happened," Charlotte says.

In fact, he can't remember being shot.

Blair has already taken college courses, and he tells us he wants to be a Jackson Police Officer, like his aunt, Velisa Walker.  "I just thank God for all he has done," Officer Walker says.  "I also thank the staff at UMC overall, because God works through them. My nephew is a living testimony."

"Stuff that he wasn't gonna do, he done," says Blair's father, Larry Rogers.  "That let me know even more it was God."

From now on, Blair plans to appreciate every moment of every day. "Enjoy the world," he says.

The family says none of the suspects have yet gone to trial.