West Liberty school shooting victim gets back brace off

The West-Liberty Salem school shooting victim has recovered enough that he took off his back brace Thursday, his parents said on Facebook.

Logan Cole, 17, was shot twice Jan. 20 in a bathroom at West-Liberty Salem High School, according to police. Logan required heart surgery and had to wear the brace for the past few months. His family said he has kept a positive altitude throughout the ordeal and was allowed to remove his brace during a recent doctor’s visit.

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“We are so grateful,” his mother, Julie Cole, said in a Facebook post. “Grateful for a school who continues to protect our children, grateful to a community that gives without hesitation, grateful to a son that daily shows integrity and courage, and most of all, grateful to a God whose love has no bounds.”

Cole has had to wear the brace for the majority of the last three months, she said.

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“He has showered, slept, pretty much every minute has been in his brace,” she said. “After a number of decent looking X-rays, the brace is gone. He is excited, we are excited, it is a very good day! Thank you all for the ceaseless prayers that have brought us this far.”

It’s been a busy week for Logan, according to his parents Facebook. Last weekend he was allowed to fly in the B-25 World War II fighter jets that were in Urbana.

Thursday was the three month anniversary of the school shooting. Authorities have since charged Ely Serna with the shooting. He faces numerous charges, including attempted murder.

Serna is due back in court for a competency evaluation on May 5.

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Continuing coverage

Parker Perry and the Springfield News-Sun has provided unmatched coverage of the West-Liberty Salem school shooting. The paper has reported stories on Logan Cole’s condition, Ely Serna’s court case, and what the school has done in response to the shooting.

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