HAVANA, Fla. – Former Sanford high school football star and current Florida State Seminoles freshman linebacker Ethan Pritchard was shot and critically wounded Sunday night near Tallahassee, the school announced.
The Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office said Pritchard, who attended Seminole High School, was in intensive care at a Tallahassee-area hospital after he was shot while inside a vehicle outside apartments in Havana, about 15 miles northwest of Tallahassee.
According to the Orlando Sentinel, Pritchard was driving a family member home when his car was shot at by someone who had apparently mistaken his car for someone else’s vehicle.
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Pritchard was taken to a hospital and was in intensive care, officials said.
“The Pritchard family is thankful for the support from so many people, as well as the care from first responders and medical professionals, and asks that their privacy be respected at this time,” FSU said in a statement. “Further updates will be provided as they are available.”
Florida State head coach Mike Norvell said Monday during a news conference that he was at the hospital Sunday night with Pritchard’s family.
“It’s obviously an extremely tragic event for the young man,” Norvell said. “Grateful for all the medical support he was able to receive. Our football team, coaches, family are all here to support them. We’re praying for all parts of him and the journey that’s ahead. Definitely appreciate the support from everybody in the community that we feel.”
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Seminole High School Athletic Director Woody Cox also released a statement saying, “We are all rooting for his full and speedy recovery.”
Ethan Pritchard is an amazing young man who represents everything Seminole High School hopes for in our student-athletes. Beyond his athletic talents, what makes Ethan truly special is his outstanding character, leadership and integrity. He leads with kindness, treats others with respect, and sets an example for his teammates and peers every single day.
On behalf of our entire Seminole community, we want to extend our heartfelt thoughts and prayers to Ethan and his family during this challenging time. We are all rooting for his full and speedy recovery, and we look forward to seeing him back stronger than ever. Once a Nole, Always a Nole.
Woody Cox, Athletic Director, Seminole High School
Pritchard, who is 6-foot-2 and 224 pounds, signed with FSU in December but did not play Saturday in the team’s season-opening 31-17 victory over Alabama.
Warchant.com, Noles247 and the Orlando Sentinel first reported the shooting.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.