Boy Dies From Brain Injury Sustained Months Ago During Youth Basketball Tournament

A 13-year-old Witchita boy has died months after suffering a traumatic brain injury while playing in a basketball tournament. 

According WMTV, Shama'ar Jefferson was playing in a March 30 basketball tournament for Just a Kid from Wtichita, a grassroots athletic program, when the injury occurred. 

After playing in the first half of the game, Shama'ar said his head was hurting, and he had blurry vision. He later passed a concussion test, but then collapsed. 

He was immediately taken to a local hospital where he underwent surgery for what doctors said was a brain bleed. 

“We found that he had a brain bleed, needing brain surgery and intensive care,” his parents shared through a GoFundMe.

In an April 20 update, Shama'ar's mother, Shaquela Cornwell, said her son had not yet woken up since collapsing. 

“He’s a spectacular kid, and for this to happen, there are no words to describe the things he’s going through. It just hurts me,” Cornwell shared last month.