Danae Columbus
St. Aug athlete and scholar Jhamal Shelby Jr., center, with his parents Jahmal Shelby Sr. and Tatanya Taylor on April 7.
It probably was a case of mistaken identity that could have turned deadly for Jhamal Shelby Jr., a soft-spoken St. Augustine High School star athlete and honor student.
One recent afternoon after practice, Shelby drove to his father’s home in New Orleans East. Before he could park his car, a young man jumped out of a nearby vehicle and began shooting. Eighteen shots were fired before the perpetrators fled the scene.
Jhamal Shelby’s wounds
One bullet visibly grazed the side of Shelby’s head and damaged his eyesight. His vision is still blurry and will require treatment by a specialist.