U.S. teen injured in Laval drive-by shooting gets airlift home before bullet's removal
A 14-year-old boy from the U.S. who was shot in a drive-by shooting in Laval last weekend was scheduled to be airlifted back home to the Boston area Thursday with a bullet still lodged into his spinal cord.
Sandrick Jorcelin, from Everett, MA, was visiting family Saturday who he hadn't seen since the start of the pandemic. It was supposed to be a fun, family getaway, but in a matter of seconds, it turned into a nightmare.
The car he was travelling in on Cure-Labelle Boulevard was sprayed with bullets as the family left the Paragon reception hall for a birthday early Sunday morning.
He survived the attack, but his 28-year-old uncle, in the driver's seat, did not.
"All of a sudden they felt like they were in the middle of warfare where they got shot at many times," said Carducci Chery, a close friend of the family, in an interview with CTV News. Chery is acting as a spokesperson for the family as they focus on taking care of their son.
Jorcelin was rushed to Montreal's Sacré-Cœur hospital after the morning attack. The bullets tore through his body, damaging his spleen, his left lung, his large intestine, his spinal cord, as well as his left kidney, which had to be removed. The teen is set to get a medical transport to Massachusetts General Hospital to remove the bullet from his spine.
The gunfire also hit the other passengers: Jorcelin's mother's wrist was grazed by a bullet. Another child's chin was also grazed by a bullet.
Jorcelin's spirits, however, were lifted Thursday when the Laval police officers who responded to the 911 call paid him a visit in his hospital room.
"Hey, you saved me," Jorcelin said lying from a hospital bed, pointing to the officer as he walked into the room.
Jorcelin cried as he got a hug from the officer, who tells him, "You're so strong, man. You are so strong."
"Thank you so much," the Grade 8 student said through tears.
'HE'S JUST SUCH A SWEET KID'
Laval police have not said whether they've made an arrest in the case but said in a news release Thursday they have arrested a 25-year-old man and seized two vehicles "related to the events of urban gun violence of the last few days" after officers conducted a series of raids in Laval and Terrebonne.
Police did not say specifically if the arrest is in connection with the May 7 drive-by shooting, but more information will be released Friday.
The family, meanwhile, wants answers as to how something like this could have happened since it was an unprovoked attack. They're also wondering what, if any, the injuries mean for Jorcelin's future.
Grade 8 student Sandrick Jorcelin plays for the Mass Elite Basketball team and is a big fan of the Boston Celtics. (Submitted photo)
Jorcelin's a basketball fanatic, playing for the Mass Elite Basketball team, and his family hopes he can continue playing his favourite sport.
"So that's the unknown that hurts so much because he loves basketball. Even yesterday, he was telling his dad, 'Can I borrow your phone so I can follow the Celtics?'" said Chery.
Members of the Mass Elite Basketball team wished him a speedy recover in a video posted to Twitter on Wednesday.
Chery, whose son is friends with Jorcelin, described him as "so polite" and who "touched everyone in the hospital."
"[When] we were away on vacation, he'd text us saying, 'Hey, I hope you guys having a good vacation. Enjoy your time.' He's just such a sweet kid."
"This is why we're reaching out and crying for help for whoever is an expert with spinal cord injury ... to see Sandrick walking again. We want to see him back to the 14-year-old that he is and hopefully get back to his this path," Chery added.
The family turned to a GoFundMe to help cover the cost of the medical transport to Boston and his treatment that is far from over. As of Thursday afternoon, they had raised more than $69,000.
Police don't know why the family was targeted as the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about the shooting can call the Laval police line at 450-662-INFO (4636).
Chery had a message for the people responsible: "Gun violence would never stop whatever you guys are trying to achieve. As you can see, innocent folks are being hurt. Lives have been changed. How do you feel about that? Do you feel like you've accomplished something here? I don't think so," he said.
"This is not right. This has to stop."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Russia strikes Kyiv as Western leaders meet in Europe
Russia attacked the Ukrainian capital early Sunday, striking at least two residential buildings, the mayor of Kyiv said, as elsewhere Russian troops fought to consolidate their gains in the country's east.

Trudeau mocks 'bare-chested horseback riding' Putin as G7 leaders meet in Germany
Russian President Valdimir Putin was a target of mockery by leaders of the Group of Seven, as they sat around a table Sunday, commencing their three-day summit in Bavarian Alps, Germany.
Climate goals may be at odds with G7 response to fallout from Russian invasion
G7 leaders opened their summit Sunday with a discussion about shaping the global economy at a time when conflict and unrest are driving up prices and access to key goods around the world.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine a 'turning point' in world history: defence chief
Canada's chief of defence says Russia's invasion of Ukraine is going to change the course of history.
U.S. Ambassador Cohen on inflation, the convoy protests, abortion rights and gun control
David Cohen has been the United States' Ambassador to Canada since November 2021, and in the time since, both Canada and the United States have experienced a series of shared challenges. In an interview at his official residence in Ottawa, Cohen opens up about the state of the relationship.
Live updates: G7 nations seek to counter Chinese influence
The latest on the G7 summit: The Group of Seven leading democratic economies has formally launched at its annual summit a global infastructure and investment partnership aimed at pushing back China's influence in the developing world.
Norway mourns victims of Oslo shooting with memorial service
Norway's prime minister and members of the royal family joined mourners at a memorial service Sunday at Oslo Cathedral for the victims of a shooting attack as the capital held its annual LGBTQ Pride festival.
People with COVID-19 can infect and sicken cats and dogs by cuddling them: study
Cat and dog owners who cuddle their pets when infected with COVID-19 could end up making the animals sick with the virus, according to a Canadian study.
Rate of extreme rainfall expected to increase dramatically by 2100
New research looking at the frequency of heavy rainfall across the globe shows that a drastic increase in downpours is expected over the years to come.