The family of Officer Shay Mikalonis, 29, who was shot on June 1, during protests over the death of George Floyd, released a statement today that he will be paralyzed and will need to rely on a ventilator for the rest of his life. The suspect in the shooting has been charged with attempted murder.

Police have arrested 20-year-old Edgar Samaniego with deliberately shooting Mikalonis during the protest after police video showed him “walking by, taking out a gun and firing at officers,” according to a judge. He’s been charged with attempted murder, battery and firearms charges and is being held under a $1 million bail.

Shay is just one of the many who’ve been wounded or killed during the now nearly three weeks of unrest that followed the May 25 death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man, at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer.

According to his family’s recently released statement shared by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Officer Mikalonis remains unable to breathe on his own and can’t speak, but appears to recognize family members and has “tentatively been accepted” to a local spine rehabilitation center.

With the emergence of the hashtag #PrayForShay trending on social media, a Facebook page was created for people to offer their regards.

People can send cards and/or letters to the address below: 

LV Metro Police Officer Shay Mikalonis
UMC Hospital 
1800 W. Charleston Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89102