Father endures ‘grueling hours’
As he stayed with his son recovering from two bullet wounds at University Medical Center this week, Victoreano Bravo had plenty of time to think.
"I kept thinking why. Why us? Why my son?" he said in Spanish on Wednesday when reached by phone at his home.
It was the same question police and the community were asking when the 16-year-old Western High School student was shot Monday afternoon near Gibson Middle School.
The shooting that seriously injured Victor Bravo, a sophomore, marked the third time in 11 days bullets were fired outside of a Clark County School District campus.
Hospital officials said Wednesday afternoon that Victor Bravo was in good condition.
"I feel bad for the family of the boy they arrested," Victoreano Bravo said. "I'm sure his family is suffering like we did when we heard Victor was shot."
Las Vegas police announced earlier in the day they arrested a sophomore at Western High School on a charge of attempted murder with use of a deadly weapon. A police report identified the suspect as Tevin O'Neal Carr. He is 16.
The police report said that Victor Bravo was shot after trying to help a friend who was being jumped by at least five teenagers.
Victoreano Bravo, 37, said his son was shot in the stomach and in the right shoulder. Both of the bullets exited from his back, the elder Bravo said.
He said this past week has been surreal, especially while watching the news and hearing about the incident from local media.
He said the most difficult time during the week was when he received a phone call shortly after the shooting from a teacher telling him his son had been shot. He said he did not find out his son was going to recover fully until after doctors finished the two-hour surgery.
Victoreano Bravo said he could not even recall when doctors told him the good news because he was so distressed.
"Those were some grueling hours," Victoreano Bravo said.
The father said his son is lucky because he is expected to continue his life without any major defects.
Victoreano Bravo credits God for that, and he said that as a spiritual man, he holds no animosity toward his son's shooter.
"May God bless him."
