VICTIM’S FAMILY: Logan Cole out of ICU

UPDATE @ 11:40 p.m. (Jan. 21)

Family members of Logan Cole, a West Liberty-Salem High School student who was critically wounded in Friday’s shooting, said the 16-year-old is making progress.

Cole, who was hit multiple times by a shotgun, remains at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, where he was moved out of ICU tonight, his father, Ryan, posted on his Facebook page.

Earlier today, Ryan Cole posted on social media that doctors removed a breathing tube. Also in that post, Cole said his son has 70 to 80 pellets in his body from the shotgun blasts. Two of those are in his spinal canal, and his backbone took a lot of damage from one of the shots. He’ll have to wear a back and neck brace for months as his bones heal.

Logan Cole is talking, and one of the first things he asked was for his family to pray for the other students involved.

EARLIER REPORT

The 16-year-old victim in the West Liberty Salem High School shooting is identified as Logan Cole. He remains in critical but stable condition at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus according to hospital officials speaking on behalf of his family.

Logan Cole’s family released a statement late Friday afternoon:

“We are thankful for the Lord’s protective hand on our son. We are also grateful for the outpouring of support from our family, friends, and community. We would like to ask for continued prayers for Logan. Also, we’d like to encourage prayer for the community, the other student, and his family. We are certain they have been deeply hurt as well. We are confident that God has a purpose and plan through this tragedy.”

Logan Cole’s father, Ryan Cole, also took to Facebook, requesting prayers for his son and family, as well the shooter and his family.

Logan Cole was not the intended target of the shooting, according to Champaign County Sheriff Matthew Melvin, who said the shooting was intended to harm more people.

Melvin said Cole was shot multiple times inside the school with a shotgun.

The incident occurred in a common area of the school, a hallway area, according to Superintendent Kraig Hissong, just as the school day was getting underway.

Melvin said staff were able to pin down the gunman, 17-year-old Ely Serna, until deputies arrived and were able to take him into custody without incident.

Hissong praised student and faculty who followed ALICE training protocol when they made the escape from the school.

RELATED CONTENT: Student describes how they escaped the school

Deputies searched Serna’s home, and also towed his vehicle from the school's parking lot Friday. He is being held at an area juvenile detention facility and is due in court Monday.

RELATED CONTENT: Investigators search home of West Liberty school shooting suspect

Investigators have not identified the shooting suspect, but we have obtained the name from multiple sources and are working to confirm the identity with officials.

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