|
Wednesday, September 08, 2010 - 1:50:35 PM
Local News
    |
Afton Graduate Injured In Fort Hood Shooting - 11/6/2009
UPDATE:The flag in front of Afton Central Schools is at half staff, honoring those lost in Thursday's Fort Hood shootings and supporting alumni Matthew Cooke. His sister called the district Friday morning to say that Cooke was one of the 30 wounded at the base.
"She said that he was in ICU, but he was doing better, that he would be okay," said Betty Briggs, Superintendent of Afton Central School.
Cooke graduated from Afton in 1998. He also took building trades classes at DCMO BOCES, where he met one of his most influential teachers, Dick Metzger.
"Matt was the type of student that every teacher would love to have," said Metzger. "He'd sit back, he'd listen to what people were saying, he'd go out and do the task."
FOX 40 also spoke with Cooke's father. He told us that his son was shot at point blank range several times, but is now alert and expected to make a full recovery.
Cooke's father also says his son was injured while trying to help a friend who was shot.
Classmates voted Cooke shyest in his class, but Metzger says this selfless act comes as no surprise.
"He was very good about working with the other students, explaining what's right and what's wrong. He was a leader in his own way there," he said.
Now the thoughts and prayers of those who knew him well and those who have just heard the stories of his bravery are with the hometown hero.
"We're very proud of him and I'm glad that he's going to be okay," said Briggs.
***FOX 40's Sarah Blazonis Reporting***
There is an upstate connection to the mass shooting that took place at Fort Hood Army Base in Texas Yesterday.
30-year-old Matthew Cooke, a graduate of Afton High School, was shot several times in the stomach and is expected to make a full recovery says his father, Carl Cooke.
Cooke was a 1998 graduate of Afton High School and attended BOCES in Masonville.
According to the Washington Post, Cooke returned from his second tour of duty in Iraq in April, and was transferred to Fort Hood in August.
VIEW VIDEOView Related Articles:
Chenango County or comment on this one below.
News system programming and website hosting by EFX internet 
Additional Articles
|
 | |
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Request A News Story
If you are looking for a copy of a news story that we recently aired, simply click here to find out how.
FOX 40 Poll
Breaking News
Do you have a tip or information about a breaking news story? Contact the FOX 40 News Desk at 607.798.0070 or send us an email .
to