Jacob Clay, 20, was shot in the spine on June 5 during a pickup basketball game in Amarillo, Texas, an incident that has left him paralyzed. The shooting occurred around 9:30 p.m. when an argument escalated, according to the Daily Mail.
Monty Clay, Jacob's father and a high school football coach, recounted the distressing phone call he received from his son shortly after the incident. "Dad, I didn’t do anything to deserve to get shot. Dad, where are you? Dad, I can’t feel my legs. Dad, I’m scared," Jacob reportedly told his father. The elder Clay and his wife immediately began the nearly four-hour drive from Archer City to Amarillo.
Upon arriving at the hospital and spending the night with their son, the doctors delivered the news that Jacob would likely never walk again. The following day, police arrested a 16-year-old male suspect and charged him with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The minor's identity has not been publicly released.
Despite the devastating circumstances, Monty Clay expressed gratitude that his son survived the shooting. He noted that the bullet's trajectory, had it missed his son's spine by inches, could have been fatal, striking his heart or lungs. "I have another day. I have another month. We have time to build a new tomorrow," the father stated.
In the month since the shooting, Jacob has been undergoing rehabilitation at a treatment center in Dallas. His father described his son's hard work to regain basic bodily control and his remarkable determination. "He wakes up every day, and he goes to work. Everything that me and you have ever taken for granted, he’s learning anew," Monty said.
Jacob, who is the father of a two-year-old daughter, is described as working harder than anyone could imagine on his recovery journey to return home to her. A fundraiser has been established by Monty to help the family prepare for Jacob's return, aiming to provide financial support for essential equipment, medical care, and ongoing assistance.
Monty Clay also highlighted the overwhelming support the family has received from friends, family, fellow coaches, and the Archer City community. This support, he said, has been crucial in navigating their grief and shock.
Reflecting on his son's future, Monty expressed concern that people might see Jacob solely as "a broken man in a wheelchair." However, he emphasized that "When you get to know Jacob, he's anything but broken." The father added, with emotion, "I probably haven’t told him enough in his life that I loved him, and I probably haven’t told him enough that I’m proud of him. But… I’m proud of him."
