Mother of Sanford teen shot, paralyzed in drive-by looking for answers

SANFORD, Fla. — In Sanford, a second drive-by shooting in a three-day span has left a teenager paralyzed and has many within the community living in fear.

Jamison Knight, 17, was shot in the neck as he walked down a street in Sanford, early Monday morning.  He was only one block from his home, near 13^th Street and Mangoustine Avenue, right down the street from police headquarters.

Investigators told Eyewitness News they have three names, but they do not have enough information or evidence to make an arrest.

Knight likes to play basketball, but today his mother said a bullet has left him paralyzed.

The shooting happened a few hours after midnight, Monday morning.  The only thing the teenager saw before he collapsed was that the shooter was black and was in a gray or silver car.

“He can't feel from the waist down.  He still has the bullet in him, and he could feel a little in his arm,” said Vickie Little, the teen’s mother.

Police said the teenager was just walking down the street when someone drove by and shot him in the back of the neck.

Sanford police investigator Trekelle Perkins said it was a random, senseless and horrible shooting.

He also said that, right now, there is not enough probable cause for police to make any arrests.  He and the family are asking for more information.

“I'm here to say enough is enough. And I want the citizens of Sanford to do the same thing,” said Perkins. “Cry out against these senseless shootings, against all of this crime, and say enough is enough.”

Jamison and his family moved to Sanford from Georgia a few weeks ago to find a better life.  Now, his mother is always afraid.

“Now I don't want to put my kids out the door at all cost.  I don't want anything to happen, and I can't go through another tragedy,” said Little.

Police believe there were some people in the area when Jamison was shot, and they really want those people to tell them what they know.

Residents can call Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS (8477) and remain anonymous.

Initially, investigators considered whether the shooting of Knight was related to a second shooting on Wednesday, where a pregnant woman and two others were wounded in a drive-by shooting that also involved a similar white or silver car.

However, on Friday, detectives said they do not believe the crimes are linked.

WFTV