State College teen’s family speaks out, details lifelong injury from shooting

Jason Anderson’s recovery will be challenging, but his spirits are surprisingly high.

The State College 13-year-old is relearning how to do everyday basics since he was shot several times at point-blank range, his mother Amy Omo-Osagie said.

The teen was intentionally shot Friday with an air gun by a 14-year-old classmate near the post office and football field on South Fraser Street, according to police. Doctors at Danville Medical Center performed emergency surgery on Jason for five hours to remove several pellets lodged in his right eye and left temple.

His eyeball was saved, but he permanently lost his vision in it.

“He’s adjusting to the vision difference,” Omo-Osagie said. “His brain is adjusting to that difference. He’ll have physical therapy to learn to walk by himself again, to feed himself again, to shower by himself again, everything. He’s doing well, though. He got up in the middle of the night, and we walked around a little bit, small steps, and ate some food, but he can only do a little bit at one time. It’s going to be a long road, but he’s heading in the right direction.”

Jason’s mother is amazed at her son’s positivity.

“I was scared it was going to ruin his life, and he looked at me and said, ‘Mom, I’m still cute and I’m still gonna play football,’” she said. “And that right there just lightened my heart so much. And I thought, ‘He’s gonna pull through this like a soldier.’ We’ll do it. We’ll keep his life the same as it’s always been. There will be struggles and adjusting, but he’s got it in his heart to keep fighting.”

Jason and his family will leave the hospital when the pain from his injuries subside.

They’re looking forward to returning to State College where the community has rallied around them.

“I’m overwhelmed, and I’m so grateful and appreciative,” Omo-Osagie added. “I never could have imagined the love and support we have between the GoFundMe, the meal train going to bring us meals, so I don’t have to worry about cooking. I don’t have to work for as long as I need to be with him. People are coming in and dropping off gifts, and I don’t even know some them. I cried yesterday because it’s just amazing.”

The GoFundMe has raised nearly $14,000 of its $25,000 goal within 30 hours to help cover medical expenses.

Jay Brandt, who coached Jason when he played football for the Centre Bulldogs, called him a great friend, player and teammate.

“He goes above and beyond to make people feel comfortable and to be there for his teammates and help them,” Brandt said, “That’s the kind of kid he is, so then something like this happens. He has a special place in my heart because of the kind of kid he is. From my perspective, this is all shocking. We just want to help him and his family in any way we can.”

State College Area School District Superintendent Bob O’Donnell said in an email to parents Saturday he was “extremely concerned for the victim and his family and deeply saddened by this tragic event.”

SCASD has arranged for counselors to be available to meet with students with concerns, and middle school teachers have been provided guidance for discussing the incident, according to O’Donnell. There will also be an increased police presence Monday at SCASD schools and additional security at upcoming athletic events.

“While the district does its part, I feel it’s a shared responsibility between the district and parents to make sure our students are supervised at all times, so I encourage parents to attend school events with their children,” O’Donnell wrote to parents in a follow-up Sunday email.

The school district is contacting students who witnessed or may have information about Friday’s shooting to better understand what occurred and to “ensure their well-being.”

Police have filed a juvenile allegation against the 14-year-old shooter for aggravated assault, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person. Authorities have not released the name of the shooter.

“Because this incident is having a profound effect on our community, I called together district administrators, counselors and State College and Patton Township police officers this afternoon to discuss what we can do to assist students at schools and families at home, as well as how we can support the investigation,” O’Donnell said Sunday. “Together, we refined our course of action.”

This story was originally published October 15, 2017 at 9:44 AM with the headline "State College teen’s family speaks out, details lifelong injury from shooting."