Jacob Hall, the first-grade boy shot in the leg at Townville Elementary School on Wednesday, has died, Anderson County Coroner Greg Shore said.
Hall, 6, died at 12:56 p.m., Saturday, Shore said. An autopsy is scheduled in Anderson on Sunday, he said.
In a public Facebook post, Hall's brother Gerald Gambrell, said "God took his strongest soldier.
"Jacob will be with us forever and always in our hearts. I love you little brother and I can't wait till the day we meet again. Your my hero buddy. I love you so much watch over your family son."
Hall’s family issued a statement Saturday after his death.
“Our son, Jacob Hall, who was shot at Townville Elementary School on Wednesday, died today surrounded by family at Greenville Health System Children’s Hospital. Jacob came into our lives six years and four months ago and changed it completely. He showed us how to love, laugh and smile even on days we did not want to. God gave him to us and he was taken away from us by a senseless act. We know that Jacob has already forgiven this child for what he did to him and his family because that's the kind of child he was. Jacob was sent to this earth for this short a period of time to show us that there is such a thing as pure love. Jacob is in heaven with God now and everyone who loves him. Words cannot express how much we will miss him.
We want to express our thanks and appreciation to the community for the outpouring of love and support. We also want to thank the doctors and nurses at GHS Children’s Hospital, who did everything in their power to try to save Jacob, and to Ms. Hollingsworth, who put her life on the line to try to protect and save Jacob. We also want to thank Preacher Blizzard and the staff of Oakdale Baptist Church, the Townville Rescue Squad, Townville Fire Department, Fire Chief Billy McAdams and all of the first responders. This is an extremely difficult time for our family, and we ask for privacy as we continue to grieve the loss of our beloved son. Funeral arrangements will be shared on Monday.” – Renae and Rodger Hall.
Hall was shot as he and other students exited a door onto a playground at Townville Elementary School at about 1:45 p.m. Wednesday. Another student and a teacher were also shot. Hall was flown by helicopter to Greenville Memorial Hospital and remained in critical condition until his death.
Hall was struck in the leg and the bullet hit his femoral artery and caused massive blood loss, said Dr. Keith Webb, Hall's physician at Greenville Health System Children’s Hospital, in a statement on Thursday.
The blood loss caused his heart to stop, and Hall underwent surgery and a number of procedures to try to stabilize him, Webb said.
“Jacob was a tremendous fighter but was unable to overcome the catastrophic blood loss and resulting cardiopulmonary arrest caused when the bullet hit his femoral artery,” Webb said in a statement Saturday. “We grieve for the loss of this little boy and pray for his family as they work through this extraordinarily difficult time.”
His family said late-Thursday that Hall had been placed on life support and had suffered a major brain injury due to the loss of blood.
Jesse Osborne, a 14-year-old who lives in Townville, had been charged on Friday with one count of murder and three counts of attempted murder. The murder charge was in relation to the shooting death of Osborne’s father, Jeffrey Osborne.
Hall was described by family as intelligent and helpful, a “God-fearing” child who attended church regularly at Oakdale Baptist Church in Townville, the only place he’d known as home.
With light brown hair, dark-rimmed glasses and a near-constant smile, Hall was a joy to be around, friends and family said.
“He comes in Sunday School every Sunday morning with just a smile on his face,” Tim Marcengill, Oakdale’s associate pastor, said at a prayer vigil prior to Hall’s death. “He’ll make you laugh and tell you he loves you. And he loves the Lord, and he knew that the Lord loves him. Several weeks back, his grandfather led him to faith even though he’s 6-years-old, he had an understanding. He’s able to just make everybody in there on a Sunday morning light up.”
