Florida freshman Ethan Pritchard going home for the first time since August 31st execution left him seriously wounded. The Seminoles linebacker was released from a rehabilitation facility in Jacksonville on Thursday, another milestone in his recovery from the incident. He was in rehab for more than a month after the Oct. 9 incident. release from Tallahassee Memorial Hospital.
Pritchard gave his first interview after the shooting and reflected on the incident and his path to recovery. He said he remembers everything that happened before the shooting and that his ultimate goal is to get back on the football field.
“It all started when I woke up [my father] got up at 1:30 in the morning, just moving my arm,” Pritchard said of his recovery. “When I first came here, I couldn’t even move my whole right side. It all started there and then it just kept getting better and better.”
One day after Florida State's season-opening victory over AlabamaPritchard was shot in the back of the head in what law enforcement said was a case of mistaken identity. The incident occurred in Havana, Florida, while Pritchard was driving family members home from a meeting. Pritchard said he heard gunshots and put the car in reverse before passing out.
Authorities four suspects arrested in connection with the shooting. Three men – Jayden Bodison, Caron Miller and Herman Atkins – and an unnamed juvenile face three counts of attempted murder and one count of shooting into an occupied vehicle. Atkins was also charged with violating probation.
Florida State players and coaches visited Pritchard during his hospital stay, and when he was released, they gathered at the facility to cheer him on as he went to rehab. Seminoles coach Mike Norvell had paid a visit earlier, right after Pritchard first opened his eyes.
“Honestly, it was something emotional for everyone,” Norvell said. “There’s still a long way to go in this process, but it puts everything into perspective—to appreciate the moment.”
Florida State honored Pritchard, a true freshman and three-star recruit in the 2025 classat his first game after the incident. His linebacker teammates, among others, took his jersey to center field for the coin toss.
Pritchard, a product of the Sanford Seminoles, has been a longtime Florida State recruiting target and has signed offers from a number of Power Four programs to the program, including permanent College football Playoff contenders such as Miami, Our Lady And Tennessee. He suited up for the season opener against Alabama but did not play a single snap.
