She Was Shot Just Seventy-Two Hours After Learning She Passed The Bar Exam And Nearly Lost Her Life
Omaha, Nebraska. With just $750 and a dream, Shantel Thompson traveled from Nebraska to Minnesota to pursue law.
Thompson is now thirty-three years old and, after seven years of education, was ecstatic to learn that she passed the Uniform Bar Exam.
Her dream was almost tragically cut short, though, when Thompson was shot and nearly killed just seventy-two hours later.
At 6:45 p.m., Thompson was walking in an Omaha park when she was shot in her side. The bullet pierced her spine, and now, she is fighting to ever walk again.
Thompson had persevered through so much to finish law school. She took evening classes at Mitchell Hamline School of Law in order to work during the day and even lived with a school staff member until she could find an apartment.
Thompson also held about a dozen work/volunteer positions throughout her education. With so much on her plate, she sought out academic help to ensure she stayed on track.
“Shantel overcame numerous obstacles in her study of law. She will be a credit to the profession,” one of Thompson’s former professors stated.
GoFundMe; pictured above is Shantel
Thompson graduated in 2017 and was just one of twenty-five national aspiring lawyers named “Law Student of the Year.”
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She has worked various jobs since graduation, each growing in complexity. But, Thompson had hoped to return to Nebraska and build her own practice.
Adine Momoh has organized a GoFundMe on behalf of Thompson, who wants more than anything to pursue her dream of becoming an attorney and serving others.
The GoFundMe has raised just over thirty-three thousand dollars out of the fifty thousand dollar goal. These donations go directly to Thompson in order to support her medical and rehabilitation costs, lodging, and food.
Thompson’s attack has sparked outrage in the community and donators have been sharing their support for Thompson and her dreams.
“People deserve to live in peace and freedom to pursue their goals. I stand in anger of this tragic attack,” said Michael Carolus, who donated twenty dollars.
“Sending lots of love and healing energy. You are strong and resilient. I was privileged enough to witness some of that when we used to study for the LSAT,” wrote former classmate Deibi Sibrian, who donated twenty-five dollars.
While her attack was undoubtedly devastating, Thompson refuses to let anyone or anything stop her from pursuing her dreams.
“In Shantel’s words, her shooting is ‘a minor setback for a major comeback,'” wrote Momoh, “Please help Shantel have a major comeback after her minor setback.”
If you would like to donate to Shantel’s GoFundMe, you can do that here.
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