A cheerful wave from Daniel Borowy greeted 14-year-old Katherine Kraft on Monday morning, easing the freshmans nerves on her first day at Perry Hall High School.

It was adorable, Kraft said. I didnt think anyone would wave or anything. It was nice.

Within hours, Borowy would be critically injured, shot in the back in the school cafeteria by another student. That Borowy was the victim made the violence all the more troubling for his peers.

Borowy, a 17-year-old special-education student at Perry Hall, is well-known for his welcoming waves, high-fives and other friendly interactions, classmates said. He remained in critical condition Wednesday morning at Maryland Shock Trauma Center.

The Monday shooting led to a lockdown and then early dismissal at the Baltimore County school on the first day of classes. Robert Wayne Gladden Jr., 15, was charged as an adult Tuesday with attempted murder and assault.

Friends of the family and fellow students described Borowy as passionate about soccer and Lady Gaga and quick to make friends. Classmates rallied behind Borowy on Tuesday, wearing T-shirts and posting signs outside the school that read Pray for Daniel, gathering at an early-morning vigil around the schools flagpole and sharing via social media a plea to get the pop singer to visit the teen.

Parents of local special-needs students reached out to the Borowy family, offering to prepare meals. Tricia Theis Rogalski, former co-president of the Chesapeake Down Syndrome Parent Group, said that as a mother of a 5-year-old daughter with Down syndrome, she feels a certain extra concern and connection to Daniel and his parents, who she said have been members of the organization for years.

Rogalski said in an e-mail that it is heartbreaking that Daniel was a victim of violence in a place where he probably worked hard to assimilate with other students and where his parents probably labored to ensure his needs were met.

Police said the alleged shooter did not target Borowy.

Borowys family released a statement Tuesday thanking police and emergency officials for their help.

Read the original post:
Shooting victim known for bringing cheer to Baltimore County high school