'He's a miracle': Family of Hunter High teen injured in WVC shooting speaks out
The family of 15-year-old Ephraim Asiata, who was critically injured in a shooting near Hunter High School earlier this month, spoke about the boy's condition on Sunday.
Asiata had been in the ICU since the shooting, but was moved out of intensive care on Friday.
Two other students - Paula "Paul" Tahi, 15, and Tivani Lopati, 14, were fatally shot during the Jan. 13 incident.
"We did know, and we were close with, the other two boys that didn't make it through," said Asiata's uncle, Muka Atiga. "Those families, we hurt for. They were able to lay one of them to rest yesterday. We just want to make sure the Lopati family and the Tahi family that we love them so very much."
He added that Asiata will "live life for those two as well, in honor of those two."
Atiga said the Asiata was only able to begin communicating with his family just prior to being moved from the ICU, and it was thanks in part to the help of the community that the family has found strength since the shooting.
BACKGROUND
- Two killed, one injured in shooting on sidewalk near Hunter High School
- GALLERY: Shooting in West Valley City leaves 2 juveniles dead
- Police identify two teens shot, killed in West Valley City
- Teenage shooter suspected of killing 2 teens, critically injuring another
- State intends to transfer suspect in West Valley shootings to adult court
"We come from the West Valley City community," Atiga said. "I'm biased, but there's no community that's more supportive for their people than the West Valley City community. We've seen that every single day. The evidence shows, in the way that people show up."
Atiga said Asiata has a "long road ahead of him," but the student is optimistic about his recovery.
"He's always been that way though," Atiga said. "He's a confident kid. He's kind of always been the alpha amongst his peers. That's kind of how he's taking this whole thing on. Nothing can really stop him, you know?"
"The doctors gave him a 1% chance," he added, "and I think literally that's all he needed."
Asiata likely will be in the hospital for a couple of weeks, his family said.
"He's always been known for proving us wrong," Atiga said. "So it may be sooner."
Atiga said he felt "helpless" in the days following the incident. While Asiata's parents were able to be with him, the rest of the family camped out in their vehicles in the hospital's parking lot waiting to hear about the boy's condition.
He said his family always takes on the burden of the person carrying it.
MORE: Dad says shooting victims were friends of his son, 'passed in front of his feet'
"Whoever has the burden, we're all going to try and carry it ourselves if we can," he said. "If we can't, we're going to be there every step of the way."
Friends and teammates, too, were spending their time camped out in cars.
"I think Granite (School District) had put them on distance learning," Atiga said. "They've been learning from the parking lot."
He said Asiata's friends stay in the parking lot outside his window all day.
"Luckily we have a community that has that same mindset," Atiga said. "Hundreds and hundreds of people have been able to help carry this burden for him."
