The 7-year-old boy shot Tuesday by his grandmother after she thought he was an intruder is improving, but is still in isolation at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital, according to the family's pastor.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office says Tyler Maddox and his twin brother were sleeping in the bed with their grandmother, Linda Maddox, at her Town 'n' Country, Fla., home while their dad worked overnight at the postal service.
Maddox, 63, had placed a chair against the bedroom door handle for extra protection.
Just before 1 a.m. Tuesday, Maddox heard the chair sliding against the wood floor. Assuming it was an intruder, she grabbed a loaded .22 caliber revolver she keeps by the bed and she fired one shot in the dark, toward the door.
Seconds after firing, she heard the screams of her 7-year-old grandson, Tyler, whom she had shot in the upper body.
Investigators haven't been able to interview Tyler because of his condition, but believe he may have gotten up to see if his father was home. They believe Maddox was startled when Tyler slid a chair she had propped against the door of the bedroom, and she thought the boy was an intruder and shot him. He then underwent four hours of surgery.
The family's pastor at Bible-Based Fellowship Church of Temple Terrace said Maddox would never intentionally hurt her grandson.
"Linda has always displayed great love for her grandchildren," said Dr. Jennifer Meningall.
Meningall says the family is relying on their faith to get through this tough time. She prays Tyler will survive being shot by his grandmother with the strength and support of his family.
"He has to know the love of his family, because they extended it and they displayed it," she says.
The family's senior pastor, Rev. Earl Mason says that Tyler's family can't be in the room with him, but they are as close as they can be. They large family is devoted, just as they are at the church.
"They are involved. They are front-and-center. They are positive. They are family-oriented, so it's just a real tragedy," says Meningall.
On his Facebook page Wednesday, Tyler's father, Reginald Maddox wrote: "My boys often say, daddy when you get home from work will you hold me? So you know as soon as I get off I crawl in bed and have 2 arms full of love!
Praying for a speedy recovery for Tyler so I can come home and hold him!"
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