Teen reflects 3 years after losing cousin, becoming paralyzed in shooting

WADESBORO, N.C. — A teen’s life changed forever when he lost the ability to walk in a shooting that also killed his cousin.

Now, three years later, Chrishaun Hough is thriving and inspiring others along the way.

Since that shooting in Wadesboro in 2020, Channel 9’s Genevieve Curtis has followed every step in the young man’s journey. She caught up with him again on Monday and learned things are only looking up from here.

‘A second opportunity, I can’t waste it’

When you see him now, you may not realize that Chrishaun Hough was only recently paralyzed.

“It feels pretty normal,” he told Curtis.

In 2020, he was shot in Wadesboro following a game of pickup basketball. His cousin, 16-year-old Malik Byrd, who was more like a brother to him, was killed.

As the calendar reflects three years since that terrible day, Hough reflected on how far he’s come.

“I was just given a second opportunity, I can’t waste it I guess,” he said. “My cousin didn’t get the same chance that I did.”

Now 18 and a senior in high school, Hough is making plans to attend Wingate University this fall, where he earned a full ride. He’s also playing wheelchair basketball with the national championship team the Rollin’ Hornets.

“We’ve got a tournament coming up,” he told Curtis.

And he even found time for a job at Buffalo Wild Wings.

An inspiration to those who know him

Through it all, Hough continues to inspire others, including his mom, Loretta Gaddy.

“He’s showing people that chair don’t define people,” she said.

Hough doesn’t see himself as an inspiration.

“People say that but I don’t really feel like that,” he said. “It doesn’t feel like I’m doing much, just trying to keep up with everybody else.”

But his customers disagree. They took to social media in a post that went viral.

“He was like, ‘I hope my son grows up to be half the man you are.’ Yeah, I took that to the heart,” Hough said smiling.

Those customers encouraged his mother to set up a GoFundMe to help buy Hough a modified car so that he can drive himself to work and have a bit more freedom.

“So I can get more independent,” Hough explained.

With each milestone, he keeps Byrd’s memory close, and has even honored his cousin’s memory with a tattoo on his arm.

He shares their story while volunteering with Levine Children’s Hospital as a peer mentor to other teen survivors of gun violence.

“Trying to help them out any way I can, adjusting to this new life that’s been forced upon them,” Hough said.

‘Going to get justice’

This three-year mark is also the same length of time they’ve gone without an arrest in the shooting.

Gaddy still hopes that will change.

“It might not be when we want to get it, but we going to get justice sooner or later,” she said.

But Hough said he doesn’t waste time worrying about that. He’s too busy making that second chance count.

“I don’t want to know them dudes, you know what I mean? I just live my life,” he said. “I don’t really, like, think about that or the past. I just try to forget all that and go through my day, honestly.”

Next week, Hough will be recognized at the Davidson men’s basketball game for his volunteer work at Levine Children’s Hospital.

The governor’s office is still offering a $5,000 reward for information about the shooting that killed his cousin.

MORE PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

• Wadesboro police, community come together on the basketball court
• ‘The feeling is tense’: Wadesboro residents pray for peace after 4 shot in 8 days
• State offers $5K reward for arrest in Wadesboro shooting that left teen dead, another paralyzed
• ‘I was tearing up’: Teen paralyzed after Wadesboro shooting gets full-ride scholarship

(WATCH BELOW: ‘I was tearing up’: Teen paralyzed after Wadesboro shooting gets full ride to college)

‘I was tearing up’: Teen paralyzed after Wadesboro shooting gets full ride to college

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