Michigan Boy Fighting for Life After Being Shot in the Head With BB Gun

A community in Michigan is raising funds and offering prayers for the family of a 12-year-old boy who is on life support after another child shot him in the head with a BB gun.

Deven Free, of Galesburg, was playing with other boys outside his home on Monday when the incident took place. The Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Office said the shooting appeared to be accidental, according to Michigan NBC affiliate Wood-TV.

Lisa Shirley, who is the boy's great-aunt, told the news outlet that the BB struck Deven just above his right eye and had lodged in the back of his brain. As he lay on the ground, he was initially able to talk but later became unresponsive.

Deven was taken to Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo, where he was intubated and doctors carried out a CT scan. He was later transferred to Bronson Children's Hospital, where he remains in intensive care.

"At this point, they cannot do any kind of surgery because of where the BB is placed," Shirley told Wood-TV. "He may or may not ever walk, talk or come off the ventilator."

She said the family had received an outpouring of support and that "our phones are going off constantly from people, from all over."

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help pay for Deven's medical treatment and support the family. Photos on the page show the boy in intensive care. There are also images of brain scans that apparently indicate where the BB is lodged. As of Wednesday afternoon, more than $5,000 has been raised towards the goal of $10,000.

The organizer of the fundraising page, his aunt, Ayriel Free, wrote that the next few days would be "crucial" and doctors were trying to keep the 12-year-old's heart rate and blood pressure up. "Even if all you can do is continued prayers, that is more than enough," Free added.

In an update posted a few hours later, she wrote that doctors thought Deven would have to remain sedated and on a ventilator for five days, rather than their initial estimate of three days.

Ayriel Free told Newsweek on Wednesday that Deven's brain pressure had risen overnight but his heart rate had improved and he was "finally tolerating food."

People donating funds left messages of support for Deven and his family on the page. One said: "So very sorry that this happened to your son. Sending prayers for your family and for Deven's healing and complete recovery."

Another wrote: "I cannot even imagine what you all are going through…this story weighs so heavy on or hearts and they go out to you and your family!"

This story has been updated with a new image and a response to Newsweek from Ayriel Free.