KALAMAZOO, Mich. — The parents of the 14-year-old injured Saturday night in a deadly shooting spree updated the public of her condition Thursday afternoon.
“Abigail remains critically ill but is continuing to show improvement. She is responding to staff, has given thumbs up and wiggled her toes. We anticipate further improvement over the next several days.” – Gene and Vicki Kopf.
Abigail Kopf, left, and Barbara Hawthorne, right. Undated courtesy photo.
Abigail Kopf was among four others – including Barbara Hawthorne, who she called grandma – Saturday night at a Cracker Barrel restaurant when they were shot at. Abigail was initially believed to have been the seventh person killed that night, until she later squeezed her mom’s hand at the hospital.
The family has authorized two donation pages to help with medical expenses: the Battle Creek Community Foundation fund and a GoFundMe specifically for Abigail.
The deadly shootings claimed the lives of the six people total. At the Cracker Barrel location: Barbara Hawthorne, 68, Mary Lou Nye, 62, Mary Jo Nye, 60, and Dorothy Brown, 74, were killed. A second shooting at a Seelye car dealership left father and son Richard Smith, 53, and Tyler Smith, 17, dead. Funeral arrangements for those killed in the shootings can be found here.
