Cape Fear shooting victim improves after surgery, still critical

Fayetteville, N.C. — A 15-year-old girl who was shot in the neck last Monday remains in critical condition but is slowly improving after surgery on her esophagus.

A bullet from a .22-caliber rifle remains lodged in the neck of Catilyn Abercrombie, but she is now able to respond to her family and doctors, Cumberland County Sheriff's spokeswoman Debbie Tanna said

Abercrombie was shot as she stood in a breezeway outside the cafeteria at Cape Fear High School near Fayetteville.

Two other Cape Fear students – Charles Underwood, 15, and Ta'Von McLaurin, 18 – are charged in the shooting, but investigators haven't commented on a motive.

They have said they don't believe Abercrombie was the target.

"We do have a theory about what happened, but we don't want to release any information about it," Tanna said. "We want to have the whole investigation completed before we release a reason as to why this happened."

Meanwhile, the high school has planned a barbecue plate benefit for Nov. 5, beginning at 11 a.m., at the school.

Plates are $7 each, and all proceeds will go to Abercrombie and her family.

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It doesn't matter to me whether Catilyn was targeted or not, what matters to me is that the bullet did find a target and that should be cause to try those two as adults and be sentenced to prison.

That little girl will suffer with the bullet in her neck for the rest of her life and since lead is a poison, it will be sipping through her body through out her life and that should matter to everyone.

airbornemonty
October 31, 2011 6:04 p.m.

This is totally unacceptable to do this to an innocent 15 year old. All the debating about doing away with the death penalty in the past, and it's success, has turned our society into one that has NO fear of our justice system anymore.

These young gang members have no regards for other people. If they intentionally do something like this to another then they need to be tried as an adult.

Praying for help from God for this gal to heal completely.

Made In USA
October 31, 2011 5:13 p.m.

HappyGirl08: Sometimes it is safer to leave a foreign body in place than to take it out.

Not Now
October 31, 2011 4:59 p.m.

Right now they do not know if it would be better to remove it or leave it based upon where it is located. More damage could be done by taking it out. -- this is just some info. I was given. Prayers for her and her family.

SportsLover75
October 31, 2011 4:52 p.m.

"Can we get a local bank to set up a way for people to donate online through paypal?"

Chances are, if a donation fund is made, their bank won't allow online donations simply because it isn't secure enough. Hopefully, a donation fund is made though, but you'd just have to send a check straight to the bank.

JJ20
October 31, 2011 4:52 p.m.