A teenager who went to celebrate her 16th birthday with friends sent her mother a chilling text a few hours later: ‘I got shot. Mom. Plz. Help me.’
Naomi Briggs is now fighting for her life in an Oregon hospital after she was the victim of a tragic shooting early Thursday morning.
Her mother, Drea Briggs, was shocked when she received the chilling text message and rushed to the hospital where her daughter received life-saving treatment.
‘If she had not reached the hospital, she would not have survived’ Drea Briggs told it The Oregonian. “She’s lost so much blood.”
The sequence of events that led to the tragedy began innocently enough. On Wednesday evening, Naomi went out with her friends around 9:30 PM.
At some point during the night, she texted her mother, Drea Briggs, asking for gas money to get back home to Gresham, but later returned the money saying she had found a ride.
But at five in the morning Naomi was still not home. Her mother was suddenly awakened by her daughter’s desperate text message and rushed to OHSU Hospital in Portland, where Naomi had been taken by ambulance.
By the time Drea arrived on the scene at 6 a.m., her daughter was in critical condition and clinging to life after being hit in the stomach at close range by a bullet in the city of Beaverton, a leafy suburb of Portland.
Naomi Briggs, 16, had been out with her friends to celebrate her birthday last week and is now fighting for her life in an Oregon hospital after being shot. Pictured next to her mother, Drea
Naomi’s first family learned of the terrifying ordeal after her mother, Drea Briggs, received a chilling text message with a plea that no parent should ever receive
Naomi Briggs has undergone four operations in three days and was scheduled to undergo a fifth operation on Monday
The shooting has left Naomi in intensive care.
“She’s hooked up to machines and her whole abdomen is still open,” the mother said.
“The doctor told me there was a chance she wouldn’t make it and so it was just a struggle,” Drea added.
Naomi has since undergone four surgeries to repair the extensive internal damage caused by the bullet, with a fifth surgery scheduled for this week.
Doctors say her recovery will be a long and difficult journey and she remains in critical condition as she battles to recover from catastrophic injuries.
Authorities have arrested 18-year-old Sky Korbut in connection with the shooting.
He is charged with third-degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon, with his bail set at $10,000.
Korbut allegedly purchased the firearm used in the shooting on the street in Portland’s Old Town Chinatown.
Korbut allegedly paid $650 for the gun after failing a background check to purchase a shotgun.
Authorities have arrested 18-year-old Sky Korbut in connection with the shooting. He claims the gun went off accidentally
The incident started innocently enough when Naomi went out with her friends around 9:30 PM on Wednesday
At one point, Naomi asked her mother for some money for gas, but gave it back after finding a ride home
Korbut had given Naomi a ride home when his gun went off.
Mother Drea now lies at her daughter’s bedside, struggling with the reality of her child’s trauma.
‘I kind of feel like it’s a nightmare. I’m still trying to process it. I’m still in shock. “I never thought this would ever happen,” she said KKG 8.
“She’s only 16 years old and now her whole life has changed forever,” she said. ‘This should never have happened. Know who your kids hang out with. This is the tragedy of guns.”
Naomi is now at Oregon Health & Science University Hospital in Portland
Mother Drea now lies at her daughter’s bedside, struggling with the reality of her child’s trauma
Naomi was described as a typical teenager who loves her friends, animals and children and now faces years of recovery
Naomi, described as a typical teenager who loves her friends, animals and children, now faces years of recovery.
A GoFundMe A campaign has been launched to support her medical costs and rehabilitation.
“The support we have received has been overwhelming,” Drea said. ‘It’s what keeps me strong for her.
“Hold your kids, you never know what’s going to happen,” Drea said.