High School Athlete Paralyzed After Shooting in Texas
A high school athlete in Texas has been left permanently paralyzed following a shooting that occurred while he was trying to assist a friend during a violent altercation. This unfortunate incident took place at around 12:40 a.m. on March 19, in a parking lot of a Waffle House in Richardson.
Authorities responded to reports of a large fight and gunfire. Upon their arrival, they found 18-year-old Seth Jackson with a gunshot wound. He was brought to the hospital and was initially reported to be in stable condition.
Jackson, a senior at Richardson High School, got involved in the confrontation after witnessing a friend being attacked. His father, James Jackson, recounted the moment, explaining that his son saw multiple individuals assaulting his friend and instinctively moved towards them, though he never got particularly close—staying about 10 to 15 feet away from the group.
Footage from the scene does not indicate Jackson being near the shooter during the chaos.
As a result of the shooting, Jackson suffered severe injuries, including paralysis from the waist down, a ruptured lung, broken ribs, and significant spinal cord damage.
In the aftermath, police detained two suspects linked to the incident. Taylor Griffin, 18, and Charles Webster, 17, were arrested and charged with organized criminal activity for their alleged roles in the altercation leading to the shooting.
Authorities believe both Griffin and Webster were involved in the events that escalated before and after the shooting, which escalated from a conflict between two groups.
Before this life-altering event, Jackson played basketball and held down two jobs. He had also been accepted to the University of Houston and was gearing up for college life—signing a lease for an apartment for the fall.
Now, Jackson’s family is faced with the challenge of making their home wheelchair accessible, something his father, James, is actively working on. “I have to remodel the bathroom to make it accessible,” he mentioned, highlighting the new reality they are now confronting.
Tragically, James shared a poignant reminder: “Hug your children. You never know when you’ll see them for the last time.” The Richardson Police Department has declined to comment on the ongoing investigation.
