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Sam Ashaolu Shows Signs of Improvement
Story URL: http://duquesne.scout.com/2/570756.html

Denny Conroy
DuquesneSports.net
Sep 20, 2006

Duquesne President Charles J. Dougherty told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Jill King Greenwood, that Sam Ashaolu was moving his limbs and responding to commands today. The video of KDKA's interview with Steve and John Ashaolu is in this story.

  • KDKA news video of interview with Sam's older brothers

    The 6-foot-7, 200 pound Toronto native was shot in the head and the neck and remains in critical condition in Mercy Hospital's ICU. The bullet that hit Sam's head shattered after striking him. It's now known that two projectiles hit Ashaolu.

    His family and AAU coach Ro Russell are with him. Russell had told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette late Monday, "The doctors have told us the swelling has gone down a little and he's been moving around a little and squeezing people's hands."

    Aaron Jackson (hand), Shawn James (foot) and Kojo Mensah (arm, shoulder) were treated and released from two Pittsburgh hospitals.

    During a men's basketball meeting Tuesday evening, Mensah and James joined the group and they "lifted the spirits of everyone," according to Coach Ron Everhart.

    Still hospitalized at Mercy is Stuard Baldonaldo who has had multiple surgeries to repair gunshot wounds in his left arm and back. He was upgraded to fair condition late Monday. It is expected he will need a couple months rehabilitation from these injuries.

    More family members of the injured were due in Pittsburgh on Wednesday. Under an NCAA emergency fund, Duquesne is allowed to cover the expenses of family members. This is especially helpful for the Baldonado family who need visas to come to Pittsburgh from Colombia.




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