Zachariah Bannister, 8 years old, is recovering in the hospital after being critically shot in the head during a Christmas light display in Lawton, Oklahoma. According to reports, Zachariah, along with his mother Nichole Groshong, his brother, and their grandmother, had stopped to enjoy the holiday decorations when the incident occurred.
During one stop, the suspected shooter, Jullian Phillips, allegedly opened fire on their vehicle while Groshong was reversing outside a home. Groshong recounted that “It sounded like somebody was throwing fireworks at the car.” She quickly drove away upon realizing that they were under attack but noticed Zachariah bleeding from his head, “His little head started falling over toward his shoulders.”
Groshong drove to a nearby children’s hospital, where Zachariah received treatment for a fractured skull and brain bleeding that has since been stopped. Days after his recovery, he can move his arms though he gets tired quickly, and his long road to recovery is expected to include extensive physical therapy.
Phillips was subsequently arrested and charged with shooting with intent to kill, a felony offense, after he was found to have admitted to the crime. He claimed someone had threatened his girlfriend while driving past his home that evening, leading to his shooting. However, the motive behind the threat and Phillips’ actions remain unclear.
At the time of the shooting, Groshong was delivering food for DoorDash, a food delivery platform. It is unclear whether her shift has since been affected by the incident.
The incident occurred on Dec. 10, and since then, the local community has rallied around Zachariah, with many contributing to a GoFundMe campaign set up to support the family.