Mom accepts diploma for son recovering from mass shooting
Jakaylan Summers remains in ICU after being shot at pre-prom gathering
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC) - A mother walked across the stage Thursday evening to accept her son’s high school diploma while he recovers in the ICU from a mass shooting.
Jakaylan Summers, one of seven people shot in Brownsville during a pre-prom gathering, remains hospitalized nearly a week after the shooting. His mother, Jennifer Summers, accepted his diploma at Liberty High School’s graduation ceremony.
“He graduates today at 6 p.m. from Liberty, and they are going to let me accept his diploma for him,” Jennifer said. “My baby worked so hard to get this. He was so excited.”
Jakaylan suffered gunshot wounds to both arms and has undergone four surgeries, with another scheduled. His ability to move his arms is completely gone, right now, according to his mother.
She said he recently became a father, and now he can’t even hold his child.
“He’s in a lot of pain,” Jennifer said. “He told me yesterday, he was like, Mama, this feels like a nightmare.”
Jennifer said she received the phone call about the shooting on Friday.
“I’m just angry. I’m in disbelief. I’m hurt. I’m shocked. I’m just mad,” she said.
Months before graduation she sent out graduation invitations, not knowing she would walk the stage in her son’s place.
“My baby did his thing, trying to get that diploma, and just for somebody to just come and take that away,” she said.
Jakaylan’s plan after high school was to attend a community college to earn HVAC certifications.
Jakaylan’s grandmother, Leona Wilson, questioned who was responsible for the shooting.
“What’s the reason? We don’t know why,” Wilson said. “This 18-year-old. I’m not understanding that.”
Jennifer said her son was at the pre-prom gathering in Brownsville to celebrate with friends before the shooting.
The shooting happened on Friday, May 8. Saturah Hayes, a Haywood County student, died after being shot during the incident.
Her mother spoke out on Monday, asking for the community to help solve her daughter’s killing.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is asking anyone with information about the shooting to call 1-800-TBI-FIND. Tips are anonymous. This shooting is still under investigation.
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