Naomi Briggs recently celebrated her 16th birthday. On Thursday, she texted her mother just before 5 a.m. with a chilling plea: "I got shot. Mama. Plz. Help me."
Her mother, Drea Briggs, told The Oregonian/OregonLive her daughter had gone out with friends the previous evening around 9:30 p.m. She later texted her mother asking for gas money to get home but sent the money back, saying she had found a ride.
Hours later, Drea Briggs awoke to the urgent text and rushed to OHSU Hospital, where her daughter had been taken by ambulance. Drea Briggs arrived at the hospital just before 6 a.m.
The shooting occurred in the 9500 block of Southwest Prairie Terrace, said Officer Matt Henderson, a Beaverton police spokesperson.
Doctors have performed four surgeries to repair extensive damage caused by the bullet, which struck Naomi Briggs' stomach from up close. A fifth was scheduled for Monday, her mother said.
"She's hooked up to machines, and her whole abdomen is still open," Drea Briggs said last week. "If she hadn't made it to the hospital, she wouldn't have survived. She lost so much blood."
Drea Briggs said Monday her daughter remains in critical condition in the intensive care unit of the hospital.
Sky Korbut, 18, was arrested on allegations of third-degree assault and unlawful use of a weapon. Court records show his bail was set at $10,000 on Friday, and he is not listed in Washington County jail records. Korbut made his first appearance in court on Friday.
A probable cause affidavit was not posted online Monday, but KATU-TV reported that police wrote in the document that Korbut had purchased the gun allegedly used in the shooting on the street in Portland's Old Town Chinatown area. According to the television station, Korbut allegedly paid $650 for the gun after trying and failing to buy a shotgun due to background checks.
Drea Briggs described her daughter as a typical teenager who loves her friends, animals and children. She also said that she hopes other parents learn from this story.
"Know who your kids are hanging around. This is the tragedy of guns," said Drea Briggs. "This never should have happened, she's only 16 years old and now her whole life has changed forever. Know who your kids are hanging out with because, clearly, I misunderstood. I had no idea."
A GoFundMe has been launched to help support Naomi Briggs' recovery, which her mother said could take years.
"The support we've received is overwhelming," Drea Briggs said. "It's what's keeping me strong for her."
-- Tyler Brown is a multimedia reporter for The Oregonian/OregonLive covering breaking news. You can reach him at [email protected] or 503-221-8243.