Video emerges of Ethan Pritchard leaving inpatient care after shooting

Nearly two and a half months since a near-fatal shooting nearly ended his life, Florida State freshman linebacker Ethan Pritchard is finally out of inpatient care. He continues his road to recovery.

Pritchard was hospitalized in critical but stable condition for more than a month after he was shot in the back of the head on Aug. 31. The incident occurred while Pritchard was dropping off his aunt and a 3-year-old cousin near the Havana Heights Apartments, located roughly 25 minutes away from the Tallahassee campus.

He was released from Tallahassee Memorial Hospital on Oct. 9 after nearly 40 days in intensive care. He was then transferred to the Brooks Rehabilitation in Jacksonville to continue the recovery process, and he is now on his way home.

Ethan Pritchard is out of in patient care! You’ll hear his first interview tonight on @WESH #FSUTwitter @FSUFootball pic.twitter.com/7qGxQCHpYY

— Stewart Moore WESH (@Stewartmoore) November 13, 2025

“I am so thankful for everyone who has prayed for my son. There have been a lot of ups and downs over these last 39 days, and it is remarkable that Ethan and I were able to leave the hospital together today,” Earl Pritchard said in a statement released by Florida State, via Warchant following Pritchard’s discharge from Tallahassee Memorial. “I want to especially thank Dr. Albert Lee and his team, the ECMO team and the nurses on the third and fourth floors at TMH for the care and medical expertise they have provided Ethan.”

“Coach (Mike) Norvell has checked in every day and has been a constant presence visiting us here at the hospital, and his players and staff have continued to make us feel part of the team. I can’t fully express how much those moments have meant to me and Ethan. The Florida State Sports Medicine staff has provided consistent communication and collaboration with the wonderful doctors at TMH.”

Pritchard has regained movement in his arms over the past month

In just the past month, Pritchard has had several positive developments. That included regaining movement in his arms. He’s also been able to turn his head and open his eyes.

Officers in Gadsden County have since arrested four suspects in connection with the shooting, which authorities believe was the result of mistaken identity due to the model of his car. Gadsden County Sheriff Morris Young said the motive for the shooting was retaliation for another shooting five days earlier. While Pritchard was not involved with that earlier incident, Young said his vehicle looked similar to one driven by suspects in that case.

“We believe the same type car that Ethan was driving was involved in that shooting,” Young said, while reiterating multiple times that Pritchard had no involvement or knowledge of that situation. “Ethan was not — I say not — doing anything wrong in that area.”

Per WESH‘s Stewart Moore, Pritchard will be giving his first interview since the incident occurred Thursday night.

— On3’s Thomas Goldkamp and Warchant’s Ira Schoffel contributed to this report.