(NEW YORK) — Summer-like heat is moving across the country this week with dozens of record-high temperatures possible from Arizona to Massachusetts.
Monday brought multiple record highs to the West, from Tucson, Arizona, which clocked in at 97 degrees, to Boise, Idaho, which reached 82 degrees.
On Tuesday, record or near-record high temperatures are forecast for Phoenix, which could near 100 degrees; Denver, which is forecast to hit 84 degrees; and Salt Lake City, where temperatures are expected to approach 80 degrees.
This summer-like warmth will move into the Midwest and the Plains on Wednesday with record or near-record highs possible.
Minneapolis is forecast to jump to 84 degrees and Chicago and Detroit could reach 80 degrees.
These high temperatures will then move into the Northeast with record highs possible from Philadelphia to Boston.
From Wednesday through Friday, temperatures will be in the 80s in New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. There’s even a chance for 90-degree temperatures in the inland Northeast.
(NEW YORK) — Nearly three decades ago at the age of 17, the unexpected happened to Joseph Sakran after a football game. He was shot by a stray bullet.
“I remember seeing the flashes of light and realizing something quickly was wrong because … I was just soaked in blood,” Sakran said in an interview with ABC News.
Since Sakran’s injury, a growing number of kids have been impacted by gun violence. Sakran, who is now a trauma surgeon and gun control advocate, said there isn’t enough gun control legislation at the national level. But a group of researchers from the University of Washington think their community-based prevention program could help reduce the number of kids who die from gun violence. Their work can be implemented by community members — not lawmakers.
Their research suggests that prevention programs focusing on parent training and after-school programs could reduce youth gun carrying by nearly 30% over one year.
Margaret Kuklinski, a co-author of the research paper, said her group mainly focused on prevention programs in rural communities across seven states. About 24 communities reached out to Kuklinski’s group to be included in the study.
The researchers worked with each community to identify ways they could reduce gun violence. Interventions ranged from alcohol and drug misuse classes to mentorship programs for youth. Each community worked with the researchers to pick one to five measures that addressed its residents’ needs. They used data from students to drive their decisions.
Communities invested about $100 per child every year, and data from the group behind the report suggested an expected return of $11 per dollar invested. The classes took place over four years, and were held at schools and in community centers.
Kuklinski said the program is effective because it keeps kids involved in the community and away from guns.
“This is an approach that goes upstream,” Kuklinski said in an interview with ABC News. “It says that if we can strengthen the conditions in which young people are developing … we can see a range of positive effects.”
The authors of the study followed over 4,000 fifth graders for about eight years. Kuklinski said her team plans to implement a similar prevention program in urban communities.
Sakran said the study results are promising because they were maintained over the long term. He said the group’s approach to gun violence prevention works. Kuklinski added that community work is only one piece of the puzzle to solving gun violence.
Sakran agrees and said that while many state and local gun safety laws have passed, the solution is multifactorial and should include both community and policy-based work.
“If someone comes in with a shot in the head, there’s very little that I can do to save that person’s life … so you have to prevent those injuries,” Sakran said. “There is never any one solution. Tackling this problem requires a multifaceted approach.”
Many experts, including Sakran, argue that lawmakers on the federal level aren’t doing enough. While Congress passed bipartisan gun legislation last year, gun violence continues to impact many kids. And guns are now the leading cause of death among U.S. children.
Last week, two Black Tennessee legislators were ousted over a gun violence protest. Sakran pointed to this incident as evidence that the culture around gun legislation has changed over the years.
Sakran added that gun violence disproportionately affects Black individuals. To address the issue, he believes structural racism and inequities need to be addressed. While there is more work to be done, Sakran said he is hopeful change will come.
“The worst moment in my life also turned out to be the most impactful,” Sakran said. “It allowed me to really be inspired to go into medicine … to give other people the same second chance that I was given.”
(LOUISVILLE, Ky.) — The five victims who were killed in a mass shooting at a Louisville, Kentucky, bank Monday morning have been identified by police, as well as the 26-year-old officer who was shot in the head and is now in critical but stable condition.
The Louisville Metro Police Department identified Joshua Barrick, 40; Thomas Elliott, 63; Juliana Farmer, 45; James Tutt, 64, and Deana Eckert, 57, as the five people killed at Old National Bank.
Eight other people, including the officer, were injured in the shooting, according to authorities.
Officer Nickolas Wilt, who had just graduated from the police academy on March 31, was shot in the head while responding to the scene, police said.
He underwent brain surgery and is in critical but stable condition, police said.
Here’s what we know about the victims:
Juliana Farmer, 45
Farmer was killed during Monday’s shooting, police confirmed.
Thomas Elliott, 63
Elliott was fatally shot during the incident, according to law enforcement officials.
Joshua Barrick, 40
Barrick was killed during the shooting, police said.
(LOUISVILLE, Ky.) — Five victims were killed and eight others were injured in a mass shooting at a bank in Louisville, Kentucky, on Monday morning, according to police.
Authorities said the suspect was killed by police at the scene.
Here’s how the news is developing. All times Eastern:
Apr 10, 10:59 PM EDT
Old National Bank releases new statement
“There are no words to adequately describe the sadness and devastation that our Old National family is experiencing as we grieve the tragic loss of our team members and pray for the recovery of all those who were injured,” Old National Bank CEO Jim Ryan said in a new statement Monday night.
Ryan and other members of the Old National leadership team have been in Louisville much of the day offering support to affected individuals and their families, and they will continue to be on hand to provide support in the days ahead.
“Obviously, this is an incredibly difficult situation, and our entire focus is on making sure that everyone affected has the support and assistance they need,” Ryan said. “On behalf of everyone at Old National, I also want to acknowledge and thank Louisville law enforcement, the medical community and state and local officials for their incredible response to this tragedy. And finally, we ask you to please continue to pray for all those affected.”
Apr 10, 11:01 PM EDT
Fifth person has died, police say
A fifth person has died following Monday’s mass shooting at a Louisville bank, police said.
Louisville police identified 57-year-old Deana Eckert as the latest victim.
Apr 10, 6:35 PM EDT
Louisville mayor vows to fight gun violence
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg spoke with ABC News’ Trevor Ault and pledged to make reducing gun violence his top priority in office, hours after four people, including his own friend, were gunned down inside a downtown bank.
“We have to take action. Today is a day for love and support to the victims… but this is life and death, so as mayor, this will continue to be our number one priority,” Greenberg – who was a victim of a workplace attack last year, said in the interview that took place a block away the bank.
Greenberg called his emotions “raw.”
“The second I got the alert that there was an active shooter going on, of course my mind immediately went back to the workplace shooting that I survived just over a year ago,” he said. “I know many people who work in that building, so I was thinking about them and everyone that was there.”
-ABC News’ Will McDuffie
Apr 10, 5:30 PM EDT
Shooting suspect was going to be fired from job: Sources
The suspected gunman who shot and killed four people at a downtown Louisville bank had recently been notified he was going to be fired from Old National Bank, law enforcement sources told ABC News.
Connor Sturgeon had interned at Old National Bank for three years before earning a full-time job in June 2021, sources said. He had been promoted in April 2022.
There was no immediate indication why he was notified he would be terminated, according to sources.
The suspect allegedly left a note to parents and friends indicating he was going to shoot up the bank, sources said.
-ABC News’ Aaron Katersky
Apr 10, 3:50 PM EDT
Suspect worked at the bank, was armed with rifle
The suspected shooter, 23-year-old Connor Sturgeon, was armed with a rifle when he allegedly carried out a mass shooting at the Old National Bank, where he worked, according to police.
The suspect was livestreaming, police said, though officials did not elaborate.
Authorities said the suspect was killed by police.
Nine people were hospitalized, including three currently in critical condition, said Dr. Jason Smith, chief medical officer at University of Louisville Health. Three victims are in the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and the three others have been released, Smith said.
Among the nine injured is 26-year-old police officer Nickolas Wilt, who was shot in the head, according to police. He underwent brain surgery and is in critical but stable condition, police said.
Wilt just graduated from the police academy on March 31.
The four slain victims were identified by police as Joshua Barrick, 40; Thomas Elliott, 63; Juliana Farmer, 45; and James Tutt, 64.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said Elliott was “a very good friend of mine” and of Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear.
“This was an evil act of targeted violence,” the mayor said.
“Today, I’m hurt and I’m hurting, and I know so many people out there are, as well,” Beshear said. “We lost four children of God today, one whom is one of my closest friends. Tommy Elliott helped me build my law career, helped me become governor, gave me advice on being a good dad. … He was an incredible friend.”
The governor said of all four victims, “These are irreplaceable, amazing individuals.”
Apr 10, 2:56 PM EDT
Biden: ‘When will Republicans in Congress act?’
President Joe Biden tweeted Monday, “Once again, our nation mourns after a senseless act of gun violence.”
“Jill and I pray for the lives lost and impacted by today’s shooting. Too many Americans are paying for the price of inaction with their lives,” he wrote. “When will Republicans in Congress act to protect our communities?”
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at Monday’s briefing, “Once again, today the president has called on Republicans in Congress to work together with Democrats to take action to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, to require safe storage of firearms, to require background checks for all gun sales, to eliminate gun manufacturers’ immunity from liability.”
“These are common sense actions we can ask for and should be getting right now,” she said.
“We need to act and we need Republicans to show some courage,” she said.
Apr 10, 1:02 PM EDT
2 officers among the injured, 1 in critical condition
Two officers and seven civilians were injured in the Louisville shooting, according to the University of Louisville Hospital.
One of those officers is in critical condition, according to police.
At least three patients have already been discharged, according to the hospital.
Apr 10, 11:27 AM EDT
McConnell ‘devastated’ by news of Louisville shooting
Republican leader and Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell, who lives in Louisville, tweeted that he’s “devastated” by the news of Monday morning’s mass shooting.
“We send our prayers to the victims, their families, and the city of Louisville as we await more information,” McConnell tweeted.
His fellow Kentucky senator, Rand Paul, tweeted, “Our hearts break for the families of those lost.”
Apr 10, 11:21 AM EDT
Officers exchanged gunfire with suspect who died at scene
Officers arrived within three minutes of being dispatched and found the suspect still firing, Louisville police said.
Officers exchanged gunfire with the suspect who died at the scene, police said. It’s not yet clear if the suspect’s wounds were self-inflicted, police said.
Four victims were killed and eight people are injured, police said.
At least two officers were shot during the exchange of gunfire, police said, including one who is undergoing surgery.
It appears the suspect was a previous or current employee, police said.
“This is awful. I have a very close friend that didn’t make it today. And I have another close friend who didn’t, either, and one who is at the hospital that I hope is gonna make it through,” Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said at a news conference.
Apr 10, 10:53 AM EDT
At least 15 mass shootings so far this month
There have been at least 15 mass shootings in the U.S. in the first 10 days of April, including Monday morning’s shooting in Louisville, according to the Gun Violence Archive.
So far this year, the nation has seen at least 146 mass shootings.
The Gun Violence Archive defines a mass shooting as at least four people shot, not including the suspect.
“It feels like every day in this country we are totally consumed by yet another mass shooting. Nowhere else in the developed world do people wake up to this preventable horror every single morning,” Kris Brown, president of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, said in a statement Monday. “Whether it’s a bank, a school, a supermarket, or a church, Americans no longer feel safe in their communities. And Americans are increasingly tired of living in fear of being a victim of a mass shooting.”
“It does not have to be this way,” Brown said. “But until the gun industry no longer has a vice grip on our elected officials, this will continue to be our daily reality.”
Apr 10, 10:32 AM EDT
Shooting unfolded in bank conference room
The gunman opened fire in the bank’s first-floor conference room at about 8:30 a.m. local time, according to officials.
Eyewitnesses said the shooter appeared to have been armed with a long gun.
“He just started shooting,” Troy Haste told ABC Louisville affiliate WHAS-TV. “Whoever was next to me got shot. Blood is on me from it.”
Police said the suspect is dead.
A responding police officer was shot in the head, sources told ABC News. The officer’s condition is unknown.
According to preliminary information, this shooting is not believed to have been terror-related, sources told ABC News.
Apr 10, 10:19 AM EDT
Suspected shooter neutralized
Louisville police tweeted that the “suspected shooter has been neutralized,” adding, “There is no longer an active aggressor threat.”
There is no longer an active aggressor threat. The suspected shooter has been neutralized.
Apr 10, 10:05 AM EDT
Residents urged to avoid area
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg tweeted that residents should avoid the area around Slugger Field until further notice.
There is an active police situation downtown. Please avoid the area around Slugger Field until further notice. We will provide information as soon as possible.
— Mayor Craig Greenberg (@LouisvilleMayor) April 10, 2023
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said he is heading to the scene.
“Please pray for all of the families impacted and for the city of Louisville,” he tweeted.
FBI and ATF agents are assisting with the incident.
(LOUISVILLE, Ky.) — Investigators said they’re working to get more clues and information about the suspect who they say opened fire in a Louisville, Kentucky, bank Monday morning, killing four people and wounding nine others.
Police have identified the suspect as 25-year-old Connor Sturgeon, an employee of Old National Bank.
The alleged suspect, who died after police responded to the scene, graduated from the University of Alabama and began working at the bank in 2018 when he started out as an intern, law enforcement sources told ABC News.
He was made a full-time employee in October 2021 and was promoted last April, sources said.
The suspect had recently been notified he was going to be fired, but it wasn’t immediately clear why he would be terminated, sources said.
Law enforcement officers combed a house connected to the suspect for more clues throughout Monday evening.
(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) — Nashville’s Metro Council voted unanimously to reinstate Justin Jones, the Tennessee House representative who was ousted last week for taking part in a gun control rally.
Jones will serve as an interim legislator until a special election is called.
Nashville Vice Mayor Jim Shulman, the council’s president, told ABC News that members quickly scheduled the meeting following Thursday’s vote by the Republican-led statehouse to expel Jones and Justin Pearson for allegedly violating the chamber’s rules of decorum by participating in the March 30 protest.
State Rep. Gloria Johnson, who also took part in the protest that was prompted by the March 27 mass shooting at The Covenant School, was subjected to an expulsion vote but not enough members supported it.
The meeting was packed with Jones’ supporters who made their voices heard, as Council members weighed their decision on the future of Jones’ seat. They let out a huge cheer after the vote came through after nearly 12 minutes.
Jones, 27, ran for office last year for the open house seat in Tennessee’s 52nd district, which includes Nashville. He had no opponents in the general election.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
(LOUISVILLE, Ky.) — Four victims were killed and eight others were injured following a mass shooting at a bank in Louisville, Kentucky, on Monday morning, according to police.
Here’s how the news is developing. All times Eastern:
Apr 10, 3:50 PM EDT
Suspect worked at the bank, was armed with rifle
The suspected shooter, 23-year-old Connor Sturgeon, was armed with a rifle when he allegedly carried out a mass shooting at the Old National Bank, where he worked, according to police.
The suspect was livestreaming, police said, though officials did not elaborate.
Authorities said the suspect was killed by police.
Nine people were hospitalized, including three currently in critical condition, said Dr. Jason Smith, chief medical officer at University of Louisville Health. Three victims are in the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and the three others have been released, Smith said.
Among the nine injured is 26-year-old police officer Nickolas Wilt, who was shot in the head, according to police. He underwent brain surgery and is in critical but stable condition, police said.
Wilt just graduated from the police academy on March 31.
The four slain victims were identified by police as Joshua Barrick, 40; Thomas Elliott, 63; Juliana Farmer, 45; and James Tutt, 64.
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said Elliott was “a very good friend of mine” and of Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear.
“This was an evil act of targeted violence,” the mayor said.
“Today, I’m hurt and I’m hurting, and I know so many people out there are, as well,” Beshear said. “We lost four children of God today, one whom is one of my closest friends. Tommy Elliott helped me build my law career, helped me become governor, gave me advice on being a good dad. … He was an incredible friend.”
The governor said of all four victims, “These are irreplaceable, amazing individuals.”
Apr 10, 2:56 PM EDT
Biden: ‘When will Republicans in Congress act?’
President Joe Biden tweeted Monday, “Once again, our nation mourns after a senseless act of gun violence.”
“Jill and I pray for the lives lost and impacted by today’s shooting. Too many Americans are paying for the price of inaction with their lives,” he wrote. “When will Republicans in Congress act to protect our communities?”
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at Monday’s briefing, “Once again, today the president has called on Republicans in Congress to work together with Democrats to take action to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, to require safe storage of firearms, to require background checks for all gun sales, to eliminate gun manufacturers’ immunity from liability.”
“These are common sense actions we can ask for and should be getting right now,” she said.
“We need to act and we need Republicans to show some courage,” she said.
Apr 10, 1:02 PM EDT
2 officers among the injured, 1 in critical condition
Two officers and seven civilians were injured in the Louisville shooting, according to the University of Louisville Hospital.
One of those officers is in critical condition, according to police.
At least three patients have already been discharged, according to the hospital.
Apr 10, 11:27 AM EDT
McConnell ‘devastated’ by news of Louisville shooting
Republican leader and Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell, who lives in Louisville, tweeted that he’s “devastated” by the news of Monday morning’s mass shooting.
“We send our prayers to the victims, their families, and the city of Louisville as we await more information,” McConnell tweeted.
His fellow Kentucky senator, Rand Paul, tweeted, “Our hearts break for the families of those lost.”
Apr 10, 11:21 AM EDT
Officers exchanged gunfire with suspect who died at scene
Officers arrived within three minutes of being dispatched and found the suspect still firing, Louisville police said.
Officers exchanged gunfire with the suspect who died at the scene, police said. It’s not yet clear if the suspect’s wounds were self-inflicted, police said.
Four victims were killed and eight people are injured, police said.
At least two officers were shot during the exchange of gunfire, police said, including one who is undergoing surgery.
It appears the suspect was a previous or current employee, police said.
“This is awful. I have a very close friend that didn’t make it today. And I have another close friend who didn’t, either, and one who is at the hospital that I hope is gonna make it through,” Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said at a news conference.
Apr 10, 10:53 AM EDT
At least 15 mass shootings so far this month
There have been at least 15 mass shootings in the U.S. in the first 10 days of April, including Monday morning’s shooting in Louisville, according to the Gun Violence Archive.
So far this year, the nation has seen at least 146 mass shootings.
The Gun Violence Archive defines a mass shooting as at least four people shot, not including the suspect.
“It feels like every day in this country we are totally consumed by yet another mass shooting. Nowhere else in the developed world do people wake up to this preventable horror every single morning,” Kris Brown, president of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, said in a statement Monday. “Whether it’s a bank, a school, a supermarket, or a church, Americans no longer feel safe in their communities. And Americans are increasingly tired of living in fear of being a victim of a mass shooting.”
“It does not have to be this way,” Brown said. “But until the gun industry no longer has a vice grip on our elected officials, this will continue to be our daily reality.”
Apr 10, 10:32 AM EDT
Shooting unfolded in bank conference room
The gunman opened fire in the bank’s first-floor conference room at about 8:30 a.m. local time, according to officials.
Eyewitnesses said the shooter appeared to have been armed with a long gun.
“He just started shooting,” Troy Haste told ABC Louisville affiliate WHAS-TV. “Whoever was next to me got shot. Blood is on me from it.”
Police said the suspect is dead.
A responding police officer was shot in the head, sources told ABC News. The officer’s condition is unknown.
According to preliminary information, this shooting is not believed to have been terror-related, sources told ABC News.
Apr 10, 10:19 AM EDT
Suspected shooter neutralized
Louisville police tweeted that the “suspected shooter has been neutralized,” adding, “There is no longer an active aggressor threat.”
There is no longer an active aggressor threat. The suspected shooter has been neutralized.
Apr 10, 10:05 AM EDT
Residents urged to avoid area
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg tweeted that residents should avoid the area around Slugger Field until further notice.
There is an active police situation downtown. Please avoid the area around Slugger Field until further notice. We will provide information as soon as possible.
— Mayor Craig Greenberg (@LouisvilleMayor) April 10, 2023
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said he is heading to the scene.
“Please pray for all of the families impacted and for the city of Louisville,” he tweeted.
FBI and ATF agents are assisting with the incident.
(AUSTIN, Texas) — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said he is “working as swiftly as Texas law allows” to pardon Daniel Perry, who was convicted Friday of murder in the fatal shooting of a protester at a Black Lives Matter protest in 2020.
Perry, an active-duty U.S. Army sergeant based in Texas at Fort Hood, was working as a driver for a ride-sharing company when he drove onto a street crowded with protesters on July 25, 2020, in Austin, Texas.
Garrett Foster, 28, was pushing his fiancee in a wheelchair during the protest when police say Perry’s car was surrounded by protesters.
Foster, who was carrying an AK-47-type rifle, approached Perry’s car when he was shot several times by Perry, according to police. Open carry is legal in Texas.
Perry’s attorneys argued at trial he had no choice but to shoot Foster for his own protection, according to ABC affiliate KVUE.
Prosecutors argued that Perry could have driven away before firing.
Witnesses testified at the trial that Foster never raised his rifle at Perry, however, Perry told police that Foster did raise the rifle, according to local outlet Austin American-Statesman. Perry did not testify in trial.
Both of the men are white.
Abbott slammed both the jury’s decision to convict Perry and Travis County District Attorney José Garza for pursuing the case.
“Texas has one of the strongest ‘Stand Your Ground’ laws of self-defense that cannot be nullified by a jury or a progressive District Attorney,” Abbott said in an online statement.
He said the Texas Constitution limits his pardon authority to the cases recommended by the Board of Pardons and Paroles. He said he requested the Board of Pardons and Paroles to take up Perry’s case and determine if he should be granted a pardon.
“Additionally, I have already prioritized reining in rogue district attorneys and the Texas Legislature is working on laws to achieve that goal,” he said.
District Attorney Garza fired back, arguing, “in a state that believes in upholding the importance of the rule of law, the Governor’s statement that he will intervene in the legal proceedings surrounding the death of Garrett Foster is deeply troubling,” he said in a statement sent to ABC News.
Garza continued, “In our legal system, a jury … gets to decide whether a defendant is guilty or innocent – not the Governor.”
Foster’s father Stephen Foster told KVUE News that his family is “happy with the verdict. We’re very sorry for his family as well. There’s no winners in this. Just glad it’s over.”
Perry’s attorney Clint Broden told ABC News that their focus is on the upcoming sentencing hearing, where they plan to zero-in on Perry’s “character and his service to our country as a member of our military for the past 12 years.”
(BLANCHARD, Okla.) — Most high schoolers graduate in May or June but for one Oklahoma teen, commencement came a little early this school year.
Caleb Woodrum, a senior at Blanchard High School in Blanchard, Oklahoma, graduated on March 28 in an early ceremony held at the hospital bedside of his mother Stacie Scyrkels.
Blanchard High School Principal Greg Jackson was there to pronounce the 18-year-old a graduate, surrounded by his family members and the staff at Integris Health Southwest Medical Center in Oklahoma City.
“There wasn’t a dry eye in that room,” Jackson recalled to “Good Morning America.”
Woodrum told “GMA” his mom had an atrial septal defect and for the last decade had lived with congestive heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. For the past six years, he had been taking care of her and bringing her to her doctor’s appointments too.
He knew his mom wasn’t doing well but said he didn’t realize how much worse it had gotten until he called his mom’s hospital on March 27.
“She didn’t really tell anyone. She just wanted us to be strong,” Woodrum said.
When Woodrum and his family talked to his mom’s care team, one of her nurses mentioned they hoped to plan an impromptu graduation ceremony for him and his mom.
The unexpected event all came together in less than 24 hours, according to Christina Hopkins, a registered nurse at Integris who helped care for Scyrkels. They teamed up to bring the ceremony to life because the nursing team said Scyrkels, who was in intensive care, would likely not be able to live until May.
“Kati Crouch — she is the respiratory therapist that had been taking care of her for a while on her rotations and Stacie had mentioned to her that she just wanted to be able to make it to May to be able to see her youngest son graduate from high school,” Hopkins explained to “GMA.”
“I said, ‘OK,’ and I absolutely ran with it immediately,” the nurse continued. “I put out a Facebook post and said ‘Hey friends and family if you have any graduation decorations or supplies that you would like to donate, urgent request, I need them as soon as possible.'”
In addition to decorations and food, the Integris staff contacted Blanchard High School and Jackson said he was more than happy to accommodate the unusual request.
“We said, ‘Sure.’ We didn’t know whether she wanted us next week, week after and I think that’s when it hit home is when the nurse said, ‘Well, no, we need to do this tomorrow,'” Jackson recounted. “So we did [the] same thing anyone else would do. We grabbed a cap and gown and a diploma and we got it set up and went to Integris Southwest on Tuesday at noon and granted her wish.”
Woodrum said he is grateful he and his late mom and their loved ones were able to share such a special moment together.
“It was very surreal. It was something that I couldn’t have imagined … but I’m glad that I did get to make that memory with her,” he said.
Afterward, the mother and son duo, who held hands during the ceremony, shared an emotional hug, something Hopkins remembered vividly.
“The hug that she gave her son took a lot out of her. But she did it and she persevered because that’s what she wanted. You can see the love pouring out of her in that moment,” Hopkins said.
Woodrum said that when he went in for the hug, his mother “told me she loves me and never to forget it. And I told her I will not.”
Both Hopkins and Jackson said the early commencement went off without a hitch.
“I’m so proud of Caleb for what he accomplished and what we were able to give to him and to her especially and I’m so proud to be a part of that team,” Hopkins said.
Added Jackson, “We’re just glad we got it done for him, something he’ll remember forever, that moment with his mother.”
Scyrkels died the day after her son’s early graduation on March 29, which also happened to be her 57th birthday.
(LAKELAND, Fla.) — A Florida woman who spent her life savings to help her daughter beat breast cancer is now a millionaire.
Geraldine Gimblet of Lakeland bought a winning Florida Lottery ticket one day after her daughter completed her final treatment for breast cancer.
Gimblet said she purchased the last available ticket the store had of her favorite Scratch-Off game.
“At first, the gas station clerk thought there were no tickets left, but I asked him to double check because I like the crossword games the best,” Gimblet said, according to the Florida Lottery. “He found the last one!”
The $10 ticket was a $2 million dollar winner for Gimblet, according to the Florida Lottery.
When she claimed the prize at the lottery’s headquarters in Tallahassee last week, Gimblet did so alongside her daughter and granddaughter.
Gimblet’s daughter, who was not named, shared with Florida Lottery officials how her mom supported her financially during her cancer battle.
“The day before my mom bought this ticket, I rang the bell and walked out of the hospital after completing my last treatment for breast cancer,” she said. “My mom had taken out her life savings to take care of me when I was sick. I’m just so happy for her!”
Gimblet did not reply to ABC News’ request for comment.
According to the Florida Lottery, Gimblet opted for a one-time, lump-sum payment, meaning she took home just over $1.6 million.
