Photo: GoFundMe
A 15-year-old teenager is recovering from injuries sustained during a school shooting in St. Louis, Missouri on Monday (October 24) that left a fellow student and teacher dead.
Brian Collins was in health class at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School when a gunman fatally shot his teacher, 61-year-old Jean Kuczka, and 15-year-old student Alexzandria Bell, per People.
Brian was among the seven other students injured during the shooting. He "was shot through his hands and a bullet lodged in his jaw, missing a major artery by centimeters," according to a GoFundMe page created to help pay for his medical bills.
After he was shot, the 15-year-old boy was able to escape by jumping from a second-story window. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
Central Visual and Performing Arts High School Principal Dr. Kacy Seals-Shahid acknowledged the victims at a press conference on Tuesday (October 25), describing Alexzandria as "a very bright student, very charismatic, beautiful spirit, a wonderful dancer, beautiful inside and out."
Kuczka's daughter, Abbey Kuczka, was told that her mother was shielding her students from the shooter and helping them escape through the window when she was shot and killed.
The suspected gunman, who police have identified as 19-year-old Orlando Harris, a former student of the high school, was fatally shot by officers shortly after he entered the high school. He used an AR-15-style rifle and held more than 600 rounds of ammunition, St. Louis Police Chief Mike Sack said at a press conference Tuesday.
According to Brian's GoFundMe, the 15-year-old transferred to the performing arts high school to pursue art.
"He is an incredible artist with an eye for detail," his GoFundMe reads. "Part of his recovery will be therapy and exercises for his hands and arms to ensure he can continue to follow his passion."
"We want to see Brian fully recovered, able to use his hands to create beautiful artwork, bake his signature cheesecakes, and make good use of his gaming chair," it continues. "We want to see a full physical and emotional recovery from the unfathomable trauma he experienced."
Brian, who is described as a "sweet, brave, resilient boy" in the fundraiser, was discharged from the hospital Tuesday night and is recovering from his wounds at home.
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