Shot Student Returns To School

Armed with a pair of crutches and a great attitude, a University High School junior injured in a robbery last week is back in school.

BreAnna Mauth, 16, was in her mother’s business Friday afternoon, when an armed robber entered, handcuffed two women and demanded money. The robbery occurred at the Mail Box Center at Argonne and Sprague.

Mauth has wounds in both legs, received when the robber’s pistol fired accidentally and a bullet passed through them.

“It actually happened the best possible way,” Mauth said. “I would rather it happen to me than any of the others…and if the gun hadn’t gone off, he would have been in the store longer.”

Her mother, Karen Mauth, was present, as well as two female employees, one of whom is eight months pregnant.

“I wouldn’t have wanted anything to happen to her,” BreAnna said.

Karen Mauth said her daughter actually shielded the pregnant woman when the robber first herded them into a small office.

The robber had put his pistol on the floor while handcuffing the women. He reached for the pistol, bumping it, and the gun fired. BreAnna was kneeling, and the bullet passed between her tibia and fibia, in both legs.

The robber got away with a small amount of cash.

Did BreAnna think about staying home for school for a few days of recovery?

No way.

BreAnna is a 4.0 student. She spent Sunday - two days after the robbery - lying on her back with her legs elevated, studying for an Advanced Placement U.S. History exam.

“It wouldn’t have done any good to stay at home thinking about it.”