Mom accepts son’s high school diploma as he fights for his life after mass shooting

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (WMC/Gray News) - A Tennessee mother walked across the stage at graduation to accept her son’s high school diploma while he remains in the intensive care unit following a mass shooting.

Jakaylan Summers was one of seven people shot May 8 during a pre-prom gathering in Brownsville. He was still hospitalized Thursday evening when his mother, Jennifer Summers, accepted his diploma at Liberty High School’s graduation ceremony.

“My baby worked so hard to get this. He was so excited,” Jennifer Summers said.

Jakaylan Summers suffered gunshot wounds to both arms and has undergone four surgeries with another scheduled. He can’t move his arms at all right now, according to his mother. She adds he recently became a father, and now, he can’t even hold his child.

“He’s in a lot of pain,” Jennifer Summers said. “He told me yesterday, he was like, ‘Mama, this feels like a nightmare.’”

Months before graduation, she sent out invitations, not knowing she would walk the stage in her son’s place.

“I’m just angry. I’m in disbelief. I’m hurt. I’m shocked. I’m just mad,” she said. “My baby did his thing, trying to get that diploma, just for somebody to just come and take that away,” she said.

Jakaylan Summers’ grandmother, Leona Wilson, questioned who was responsible for the shooting. No suspects have been arrested.

“What’s the reason? We don’t know why,” Wilson said.

Six other people were injured in the shooting, including 17-year-old Saturah Hayes, a Haywood County student, who died. Her mother spoke out last Monday, asking for the community to help solve her daughter’s killing.

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is asking anyone with information about the shooting to call 1-800-TBI-FIND. Tips are anonymous.