Teenager may be paralyzed

*17-year-old Jeremy Voshage is being transferred to a St. Louis medical facility

*His mother says wounds to his kidneys and bowels are healing

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The teenager who was shot three times at a Jackson car wash two weeks ago may be permanently paralyzed, his mother said.

Jeremy Voshage, 17, of Jackson remains at Saint Francis Medical Center, but he is scheduled to leave today for a facility in St. Louis where he will receive treatment for the severe spinal damage he suffered as a result of a bullet lodged in his spine, said his mother, Karen Obermann.

Though his damaged kidney and pierced bowel have begun to heal, there is still considerable paralysis, and doctors say removing the bullet may cause further nerve damage, Oberman said.

Obermann said Voshage, who regained consciousness three days after the shooting, was still heavily medicated, and declined to allow him to be interviewed because he had yet to give a statement to police.

He was also shot in the midsection, and the bullet remains in the hip area where it hasn't yet been removed, causing extensive scarring and excruciating pain, said his mother. It is not known yet whether doctors will be able to remove it.

In addition to the spinal injuries, Voshage suffered a gunshot wound to the ankle, where the bullet was safely extracted.

"Right now, I think he just feels kind of helpless and hopeless," Obermann said.

She declined to release the name of the medical facility in St. Louis where Voshage will be treated but said he will probably have a lengthy stay and will receive therapy to help him understand his condition and physical limitations.

The 16-year-old Jackson teen suspected of shooting Voshage with a .22-caliber rifle was charged with armed criminal action and first-degree assault, but authorities have not released his name because he is a juvenile.

Obermann confirmed statements by police that the shooting, which occurred around 6:30 p.m. on July 10 at the Shawnee Square Car Wash and Storage, 560 Shawnee Blvd., involved a dispute over a girl Obermann said is Voshage's girlfriend.

According to Obermann, the suspect in the shooting was an ex-boyfriend of the girl, and threatened Voshage when he and the girl began dating about two months ago.

She said her son had gone to the car wash to confront the other boy and planned on telling the other teenager to leave them alone.

Voshage had dropped out of high school last year and had recently begun working at Delmonicos as a fry cook, a job he was proud of getting on his own, said his mother.

Obermann said she was at home making supper when police notified her that her son had been shot, and she said she has struggled to stay strong and supportive for her two younger children while caring for Voshage.

"It's a battle just to sleep sometimes," she said.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

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