Florida State football coach Mike Norvell provided an update on the condition of freshman linebacker Ethan Pritchard after the Seminoles practice Wednesday.
Pritchard, who was shot while giving a ride to his aunt and 2-year-old cousin after attending a family gathering in Havana on Sunday night, remains in stable condition with a gunshot wound to the back of his head.
“It’s a lot. I try to give the players a daily update. I talked to Ethan’s dad this morning. I try to check on them daily. I was able to go yesterday for a short period— limited visitation — but just being there was good,” Norvell told the media. “He’s still in stable condition. We’re praying for him every day. It’s about being there for our players too, because that’s one of their brothers and they deeply care about him.”
Seminole LB Ethan Pritchard stays true to mother he never knew, commits to FSU
Pritchard, 18, a freshman from Sanford, did not play in Saturday night’s 31-17 FSU victory over Alabama.
He volunteered to give his aunt, the sister of his father Earl Pritchard, and his young cousin home from the gathering. A source close to the family said that, as Pritchard’s vehicle entered the aunt’s neighborhood, the shooting began.
The motive for the shooting is still unknown and Gadsden County sheriff’s officials are still investigating leads.
According to the source, when the shooting started, Pritchard quickly put the vehicle in reverse but then slumped over after he was shot. The vehicle continued in reverse motion until it slammed into a neighbor’s shed. Police arrived on the scene to help remove him from the vehicle and he was taken, by ambulance, to Tallahassee Memorial Hospital. The incident happened about 10 p.m. Sunday.
The source said Pritchard was somewhat alert when he arrived at the hospital and was fighting off doctors as they tried to administer sedatives and place tubes in his nose prior to surgery. He remains sedated and in the intensive care unit at TMH.
Ethan’s father, Earl Pritchard, told Orlando ABC affiliate WFTV:
“He was actually in the car taking my sister around the corner to her daughter’s house to drop her off. They turned the corner, and as soon as they turned the corner, they heard gunshots.”
Earl Pritchard told the station doctors are monitoring the swelling in his son’s head to make sure there are no changes or further complications.
It’s a tough situation for FSU players as they prepare for their home game with East Texas A&M on Saturday.
“We are going through the process. He’s got all things that are in front, we are absolutely praying for him every day and trying to be there for our players too,” Norvell said. “Yes, it’s one thing on the field, but it’s also off the field. Just working through this part of the tragedy of what it is.”
Chris Hays can be found on X.com @OS_ChrisHays.
