Cheerleader Upgraded to Serious Condition After Shooting

Cheerleader Upgraded To Serious Condition After Shooting
Police: Teen Was Part Of Group Looking For Thrills

POSTED: 9:45 am EDT August 30, 2006
UPDATED: 9:56 am EDT August 30, 2006

WORTHINGTON, Ohio -- Family members of a Worthington teenager who was shot have encouraging news to report about her recovery.

According to a family pastor, Rachel Barezinsky was upgraded from critical to serious condition, NBC 4 reported.

The pastor said that Barezinsky is able to whisper words, write some words and has even smiled.

Police said Rachel was shot after she and some friends approached a house across the street from a cemetery.

Rachel is a senior honor student and varsity cheerleader at Thomas Worthington High School, NBC 4 reported.

Detectives said that when the girls ran around the house, a person who lives inside the house, Allen Davis, fired the shots.

Rachel was struck in the shoulder and head with rounds fired from a rifle, NBC 4 reported.

The five teens then ran to their car and drove away before they flagged down an officer on High Street.

Davis, 40, appeared in court last week where more details were released about the incident.

"(Davis) admitted he fired his rifle at least eight rounds at the vehicle driving north on Milton Avenue, near Sharon Springs," said Worthington police Detective Dick Tennant.

Davis said the teens in the car were trespassing and he fired the shots to protect his property.

Police said the girls were on a thrill ride and drove by the Davis' home across from the cemetery, honked the horn and even took a few steps on the property to get a scare.

http://www.nbc4i.com/newsarchive/9761109/detail.html