Nearly three weeks after a tragic accidental shooting that left an 8-year-old boy hospitalized in Miami, his 12-year-old older brother — the child accused of pulling the trigger — has capped a tumultuous period for his family by graduating as the top academic achiever from his Bimini-based Gateway Christian Academy. In an emotional graduation address, the 12-year-old publicly thanked the broader community for its outpouring of prayers and support during what he called an incredibly difficult season for himself and his parents. He received resounding cheers from the gathered crowd as he stepped onto the stage to accept his prestigious honor.
Lloyd Edgecombe, the boys’ grandfather, shared new updates on the family’s journey in comments to reporters on Sunday, confirming that 8-year-old Duran Saunders has been moved out of intensive care at Miami’s Jack Nicklaus Hospital. The young patient is already able to move independently and is preparing to begin speech therapy as part of his ongoing recovery, marking a promising milestone after the life-altering injury.
The May 23 shooting has upended the entire family, leaving the younger child receiving specialized medical care thousands of miles from home, ordering the 12-year-old to complete court-mandated psychological treatment, and leading to serious criminal charges against the boys’ father, Dexter Durell Saunders. The father faces two counts: child cruelty and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger a child’s life.
Following the graduation ceremony, the 12-year-old returned immediately to Grand Bahama, where he is required to complete six weeks of court-ordered psychological therapy. After the treatment concludes, local authorities will determine next steps for the legal case against the child. Edgecombe emphasized that the entire family remains proud of the 12-year-old’s academic achievement, even amid the ongoing crisis that has tested their resolve.
“We feel real good about that, you know, especially during the turbulent time for the family,” Edgecombe said. “They’re not bad boys, and the accident was an unfortunate thing.”
For Duran, the path to recovery remains long, but his recent progress has brought relief to his loved ones, who had prepared for a far worse outcome. “Ranny is a little fighter, you know, that’s my boy. He’s out of the woods, but he has a lot of therapy to do. He’s moving, getting up, and all the other things, so that’s good,” Edgecombe said, adding that “it could have gone another way. I mean, it was a disaster what would have happened, but it could have gone another way.”
Edgecombe also shared that the family has been sustained by widespread community support from Bimini and across the globe, with donations pouring in to cover Duran’s mounting medical costs and the family’s living expenses during the extended recovery period. A GoFundMe campaign organized by two visiting American tourists, Raul and Yarelys Rodriguez of North Miami, Florida, who were on Bimini when the shooting occurred and have longstanding ties to the island, has already raised $61,926 — roughly 62% of its $100,000 goal. The family has expressed deep gratitude for every donation and message of support they have received throughout the ordeal.