VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — More than a week after a stray bullet hit 8-year-old Landyn Davis in the head in Virginia Beach, his parents say he’s making strides.
Emily Rigsby told 13News Now that her son’s doctors call him a fighter.
“Not even a week ago... we were afraid we were going to lose our son, and he’s here, and he’s fighting, and he’s doing great," Rigsby said.
Rigsby said doctors at the Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters (CHKD) plan to remove Landyn’s feeding and ventilation tubes on Thursday. Doctors are even fitting him into a wheelchair.
“He’s moving his arms and his legs and his hips and his head," Rigsby said. "They’re going to move him into a wheelchair and start getting him to sit up on his own.”
The shooting happened while Landyn played video games inside his home on Peele Court in Virginia Beach on Feb. 13.
“He doesn’t know where he’s at. I’m trying to wait until he’s a little better until I explain to him. [The] last thing he knew is he was playing his video game," Landyn's mother said.
After spending days in a medically induced coma, Landyn opened his eyes Tuesday, one week after the shooting.
“I was overwhelmed. I busted out crying," Rigsby said. "You can look on his face and see that he wants to say something, but he can’t.”
The hashtag "Landyn Strong" has spread across social media with strangers sharing their well wishes for the young boy.
“…Prayers that everybody was sending out. That’s what kept us strong and kept us fighting for our son while he was fighting for himself," Rigsby said.
Rigsby said there will be a fundraiser at Pups and Pints in Virginia Beach this weekend. All proceeds will go to Landyn’s medical bills. It’ll be from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday.
Virginia Beach police are still asking anyone with information about the shooting on Peele Court to come forward. Investigators opened an anonymous digital evidence portal, where people can upload photos and videos related to the shooting.
Virginia Beach Crime Solvers also voted to raise the reward to up to $5,000 for information leading to an arrest in this case, higher than the usual reward of $1,500.