Victim told he will never walk again after a shooting in Moniteau County
MONITEAU COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)
Editor's Note: The victim's last name was misspelled in a previous version of this story.
One person was killed in a weekend shooting in Moniteau County. Two more were hit by gunfire and another person was assaulted, the county sheriff's office said Monday.
One of the victims hit by gunfire was Tagen Higgins.
Higgins had surgery Tuesday on his left arm which has major bone damage to the upper arm and elbow.
Doctors think they can fix it and get most of if not the full range of movement back.
However, this was the less severe injury. Tagen's father, Heath Higgins, says there was a more devastating gunshot wound that was the most damaging and traumatic. The doctors after much review and contemplation have determined that they can not do surgery on Tagen’s back to remove the bullet. It is lodged in his spinal canal and they are afraid they will do more damage trying to remove it.
Tagen is currently unable to feel anything below the waist and he has been told that he will not be able to walk again.
Tagen is a student at the University of Central Missouri. Two friends from his fraternity, Quinn Yonker and Tyler Allin, said they've had a great few months getting to know Tagen in the fraternity and were devastated to hear the news.
"Me and a few guys hopped in the car and went straight to the Columbia hospital and went to go be with him and his family during these trying times," Allin said.
Because of COVID-19 restrictions, Allin says they were not allowed to see Tagen, but they spent time talking to his family and luckily were able to do a quick Facetime call.
"We did end up getting a short FaceTime call from him that day. It was pretty short, but pretty much he still has that same sense of humor and same smile on his face, even though the odds are stacked against him," Allin said.
Although the event is a tragedy, family and friends say they are just glad Tagen is still here with them and did not lose his life because of the incident on Sunday.
"I'm just grateful that he is still alive. Yes it's traumatic, but he's still here with us and we are still going to be able to see him," Yonker said.
"The doctors looked at me deep in my eyes and said we don’t know how your son is alive. The bullet missed every artery even his heart by millimeters. We have a long road ahead but with the support of our family and friends we will get through this," Heath Higgins said.
Allin says some friends are thinking of doing a fundraiser around the local community and trying to help Tagen and his family with medical bills.
