Zeneta Everhart is thanking her lucky stars that her 20-year-old son Zaire Goodman is still alive, calling it a miracle and a divine intervention that he managed to survive the worst mass shooting in Buffalo's history.
Everhart said that Saturday began as a typical day for the two of them. Zeneta said that her son had to go to work that day and they actually left the house at about the same time as she was on her way to another grocery store.
Everhart went to BJ's to pick up a few things while her son Zaire, whom she fondly calls "the kid, " headed to his job on Jefferson Avenue at the Tops Friendly Markets. Zeneta told her son as he left the house to have a good day at work as that is their normal thing.
Zaire makes frantic phone call to mom after being shot
That particular day would turn out to be anything but normal, though, for the pair as Zeneta received a frantic phone call from Zaire while shopping at BJ's. Zaire told Zeneta "Get here right now, Mom. Get here. You've got to get here right now. I got shot."
Everhart could not believe what she had just heard with the worried mom asking herself "Why would he get shot at work?" Zeneta immediately raced to her wounded son, but by the time she got to the scene of the shooting, Zaire had already been loaded onto an ambulance and was being taken by medics to Erie County Medical Center for treatment.
Everhart said she only learned of the severity of the shooting when she arrived at the hospital. Zaire told Zeneta he saw the gunman get out of his car wearing full tactical gear and started opening fire on them.
Zaire was among those who was shot by the suspect, falling to the ground after being hit. The elderly woman Goodman was assisting at the time was shot and killed. Fortunately for Zaire, a co-worker managed to help him make it to safety.
Zeneta told WHAM in an interview that divine intervention surely helped her son survived this ordeal, as Zaire was shot in his lower right neck, with the bullet going out his back on the left side. Amazingly, the bullet missed Zaire's vital organs, helping him survive the hit.
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Zeneta plans massive birthday celebration for son Zaire
Zeneta calls it a miracle, saying Zaire did not even have surgery or stitches and he is barely taking his pain meds. He is now back home recovering and according to Zaire himself, he is doing okay.
Zaire turns 21 years old in just seven days, which is one day before her own birthday. Zeneta plans on making it the biggest birthday celebration ever, given the new lease on life her son has gotten. Zeneta said she is going to make it a spectacle because he is going to be 21 and he has been born twice.
According to Democrat and Chronicle, Everhart is the director of diversity and inclusion in the office of state Sen. Tim Kennedy, D-Buffalo.
