Victim’s condition improves

TACOMA – A man critically injured in a shooting at the Tacoma Mall has been removed from a respirator and has spoken to his family, a hospital spokesman said Thursday.

Brendan McKown, 38, was removed from the respirator Thursday morning and his condition was upgraded to serious but stable. No other information was available.

“He remains very weak and medically fragile, but he is talking with staff and family members,” said Todd Kelley, spokesman for Tacoma General Hospital.

McKown was the most seriously wounded of six people shot in the shooting rampage Sunday.

He underwent two surgeries after being hit twice in the abdomen. Doctors worried that he may be left with permanent paralysis because of spinal damage.

“He will likely be in serious but stable (condition) for some time,” Kelley said.