The 15-year-old teenager who was shot in the head during a Miami Heat game celebration Thursday night is on the road to recovery, doctors said.
Brandon Reid is expected to be discharged from Memorial Regional Hospital on Saturday, two nights after a stray bullet pierced through the sliding glass door in his second-floor Miramar apartment and struck the teen as he and his younger brother were celebrating the local basketball team’s victory over the San Antonio Spurs.
“At first I thought it was a rock, because I’ve never felt the pain of being hit by a bullet before,” said Brandon as he sat in his hospital bed. “So I thought it was a rock, but then I realized I had my hand behind my head, I’ve seen blood.”
Brandon said he called his father in Georgia immediately after he was shot. He then called 911 himself because, according to him, his mother was in a panic. “She couldn’t even hold the phone right, so I had to dial it for her,” Brandon said.
The victim also credited his 11-year-old brother, Daryl Denson, Jr., for helping him out throughout the ordeal. “It was bloody, blood was just going on the floor, dripping on his hair and his neck,” Daryl said.
Brandon’s stepfather, Daryl Denson, Sr., called shortly after the Heat’s victory to hear the news of his stepson’s shooting from his son. “[Daryl, Jr.] said, ‘Dad, Brandon just got shot in the head,'” Denson, Sr. said. “I’m like, ‘Shot in the head?’ It didn’t register to me what he was saying because I’m emotionally charged about the game, and he just kept saying that and started crying, and I said, ‘I have to get there.'”
The teen, an honor roll student, was transported to the hospital with the bullet still in his head. Doctors were able to remove the entire bullet, and he is expected to make a full recovery.
Brandon’s doctor said he’s never seen anyone recover from a bullet wound to the head so fast. “He’s very fortunate in that the place where the bullet struck was just behind his ear,” said Dr. Dean Hertzler. “It’s one of the thickest parts of the skull.”
Daryl, Jr. said he’s glad to see Brandon by his side again. “My brother was hurt and like, as a brother, you feel something when someone gets hurt,” he said.
Brandon’s father, Georgia resident Marvin Reid, is calling his son’s survival “a miracle.” “You just thank God for every day that you’re here,” he said.
Brandon himself is also feeling thankful. “I was just standing in the wrong place at the wrong time,” he said. “I feel blessed, fortunate.”
Police are investigating where that bullet came from. “I appreciate pots and pans being banged on, but where do guns come in?” said Marvin. “Guns should be used for police work, protecting your home. Not shooting in the air after the game.”
If you have any information on this shooting, call Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward.