Brett Karch

SNOHOMISH - The cannon shot that ripped into Brett Karch's leg, causing a gaping combat-style wound, has also torn a hole in his hometown community of Snohomish.
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Karch, whose leg was nearly amputated and who faces more than a year of physical rehabilitation with an uncertain outcome, has been the target of physical threats because of fears his injury will jeopardize the community's tradition of firing the ceremonial cannon before each high school football game and after touchdowns.
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But the shot that nearly took off Brett Karch's leg now leaves the fate of that tradition in the air, and that has upset some in the community.

According to Karch's medical records, security guards notified police after Karch received disturbing phone calls and visits from parents and students, some of whom threatened to "break his other leg" or worse, if he didn't keep quiet about the accident.Hospital staff had to move him to a secure room where they monitored visitors.

Callers and visitors told Karch they would "make sure his other leg got blown off," and that "there would be retaliation" if the family cooperated in an investigation that could end the cannon tradition, said Mary Bissel, Karch's mother.
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"That's when I kind of got a little upset," Karch said.

The threats also included mention the family would be "banned from the town," Bissell said.She's been warned not to talk to a lawyer, or reporters.

The allegations of threats, as well as the cause of the accident, remain under investigation.Hospital security reported the threats to the Everett Police Department, but police, who came to the hospital to interview Karch and his mother, won't release the incident report, citing the open investigation into the cause of the accident.
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Being on the cannon-firing squad was a source of pride for Karch, who joined the ROTC unit last year to help him toward his longtime goal of becoming a Marine.Karch, a lanky, personable 16-year-old, had hoped to do Special Forces reconnaissance work one day.

"Brett wanted to serve his country," said Bissel.
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The other cadets stood at attention except Karch, who leaned in, finger at the ready.
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Karch pulled the trigger.
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"My leg went flying, and I fell on my right side," said Karch."Kids were staggering around.
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The team of emergency medical technicians standing by in the event of a football injury rushed Karch into a waiting ambulance.

The priority on the playing field, however, was the game, which didn't stop as Karch was carried off the sidelines to an ambulance, witnesses said.
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As play continued, Karch was taken to Providence Everett's Colby Campus, where doctors initially told his stunned mother they weren't sure they could save his leg.
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Karch has since undergone three surgeries to implant a titanium rod the length of his shin to replace the decimated bone and to graft skin over the shredded tissue.In February, doctors plan to graft bone from his hip into his leg to help it heal.

"My leg was in so many pieces, it was like a jigsaw puzzle," said Karch.
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Rumors circulated almost immediately among students that Karch must have packed the cannon incorrectly, and some of the cards and comments have suggested that he deserved what happened to him.
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That's what seems to worry many of those who have contacted Karch, who has gotten cards indicating the tradition of the cannon is too important to lose.
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Since his discharge from the hospital on Oct. 23, Karch has had only three visitors - two of them Mack and Brown.
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On a recent school day afternoon, Karch, who has not been able to attend regular classes since the accident, rode past his old school in a cabulance on his way to an Everett clinic for a weekly changing of the thick dressings that wrap his wounds.Kids had spilled out of the school, and he tried to wave to Brown, who drove by.

Karch said later he wondered whether the kids milling around even realized that he was in the ambulance van going by.

The persistent hostility, and loss of friendships, make him sad, but he's trying not to dwell on it.

He's working hard during weekly physical and occupational therapy sessions, hoping to regain enough function to qualify for the military.

"Brett Karch, an ROTC student, almost lost his leg due to a cannon explosion at a football game.The town's reaction?

Brett Karch
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Wendy Vick, clinic nursing supervisor at Providence Everett Medical Center, takes pictures of Brett Karch's wounds.
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Karch, a member of the Snohomish High School ROTC team that was manning a cannon at a football game, nearly lost his leg when the cannon accidentally blew up.
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SNOHOMISH -- The cannon shot that ripped into Brett Karch's leg, causing a gaping combat-style wound, has also torn a hole in his hometown community of Snohomish.

Karch, whose leg was nearly amputated and who faces more than a year of physical rehabilitation with an uncertain outcome, has been the target of physical threats because of fears his injury will jeopardize the community's tradition of firing the ceremonial cannon before each high school football game and after touchdowns.
...
But the shot that nearly took off Brett Karch's leg now leaves the fate of that tradition in the air, and that has upset some in the community.

According to Karch's medical records, security guards notified police after Karch received disturbing phone calls and visits from parents and students, some of whom threatened to "break his other leg" or worse, if he didn't keep quiet about the accident.Hospital staff had to move him to a secure room where they monitored visitors.

Callers and visitors told Karch they would "make sure his other leg got blown off," and that "there would be retaliation" if the family cooperated in an investigation that could end the cannon tradition, said Mary Bissel, Karch's mother.
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"That's when I kind of got a little upset," Karch said.
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Hospital security reported the threats to the Everett Police Department, but police, who came to the hospital to interview Karch and his mother, won't release the incident report, citing the open investigation into the cause of the accident.
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Being on the cannon-firing squad was a source of pride for Karch, who joined the ROTC unit last year to help him toward his longtime goal of becoming a Marine.Karch, a lanky, personable 16-year-old, had hoped to do Special Forces reconnaissance work one day.

"Brett wanted to serve his country," said Bissel.
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On Oct. 6 -- the night of the Snohomish Panthers big homecoming game against rival Everett High School -- Karch prepared as usual for the firing of the cannon.

He helped roll the coffee table-sized artillery piece to the field where he and two other cadets packed the barrel with about 5 ounces of gunpowder.
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The other cadets stood at attention except Karch, who leaned in, finger at the ready.
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Karch pulled the trigger.
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"My leg went flying, and I fell on my right side," said Karch."Kids were staggering around.
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The team of emergency medical technicians standing by in the event of a football injury rushed Karch into a waiting ambulance.

The priority on the playing field, however, was the game, which didn't stop as Karch was carried off the sidelines to an ambulance, witnesses said.
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As play continued, Karch was taken to Providence Everett's Colby Campus, where doctors initially told his stunned mother they weren't sure they could save his leg.
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Karch has since undergone three surgeries to implant a titanium rod the length of his shin to replace the decimated bone and to graft skin over the shredded tissue.In February, doctors plan to graft bone from his hip into his leg to help it heal.

"My leg was in so many pieces, it was like a jigsaw puzzle," said Karch.
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Rumors circulated almost immediately among students that Karch must have packed the cannon incorrectly, and some of the cards and comments have suggested that he deserved what happened to him.
...
That's what seems to worry many of those who have contacted Karch, who has gotten cards indicating the tradition of the cannon is too important to lose.
...
Since his discharge from the hospital on Oct. 23, Karch has had only three visitors -- two of them Mack and Brown.
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On a recent school day afternoon, Karch, who has not been able to attend regular classes since the accident, rode past his old school in a cabulance on his way to an Everett clinic for a weekly changing of the thick dressings that wrap his wounds.Kids had spilled out of the school, and he tried to wave to Brown, who drove by.

Karch said later he wondered whether the kids milling around even realized that he was in the ambulance van going by.

The persistent hostility, and loss of friendships, make him sad, but he's trying not to dwell on it.

He's working hard during weekly physical and occupational therapy sessions, hoping to regain enough function to qualify for the military.

According to records of Brett Karch's two-week hospital stay, security guards alerted police after disturbing phone calls and visits from parents and students.Some threatened to "break his other leg" or worse, if he didn't keep quiet about the accident.Hospital staff moved him to a secure room where visitors could be monitored.

The alleged threats and the accident remain under investigation by Everett police.Authorities declined to comment.

Karch, now 16, was injured as he and other members of the Junior ROTC, in keeping with a 30-year school tradition, fired the cannon at the start of the Panthers' Oct. 6 game against Everett.He nearly lost his left leg and faces more than a year of physical rehabilitation.
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Karch was injured when the device exploded in a deafening roar, debris flying as far as 30 feet.
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Karch had helped roll the cannon to the field.He and two other cadets packed the barrel with about 5 ounces of gunpowder.
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The cadets stood at attention - except for Karch, who leaned in to fire the device.
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Karch pulled the trigger.
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"My leg went flying, and I fell on my right side," Karch said."Kids were staggering around.I looked at my leg and felt it burning."

He said he asked another cadet, "Did it blow my leg off, is my leg still attached?"But the temporarily deafened student couldn't hear him.

The game went on as Karch was rushed to Providence Everett's Colby Campus.
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Karch has since undergone three surgeries for skin grafts and to implant a titanium rod the length of his shin, replacing decimated bone.Doctors plan to graft bone from his hip in February to help his leg heal.

Rumors circulated that Karch must have packed the cannon incorrectly.Karch said he didn't do anything different that night.
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After the accident, callers and visitors told Karch they'd "make sure his other leg got blown off," and that there would be retaliation if the family cooperated in an investigation that could end the tradition, said his mother, Mary Bissel.
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Being on the cannon-firing squad was a source of pride for Karch, who joined the ROTC unit last year.He hopes to become a Marine, perhaps doing Special Forces reconnaissance work

"Brett wanted to serve his country," his mother said."Now we're just hoping he will be able to use his leg."

Since his discharge from the hospital Oct. 23, Karch has had just three visitors, including Mack and Brown.

Help Brett KarchFundable: Fundraising.
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Help Brett Karch

Help Brett Karch
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Brett Karch, an ROTC student, almost lost his leg due to a cannon explosion at a football game.The town's reaction?Threaten to break his other leg if the story gets out to the media causing them to possibly lose their ritual shooting of the cannon during football games.The purpose of this fundable is to show Brett support and help his family with all the medical bills they will incur.Just because a small ignorant town turns their back on Brett does not mean we will.
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u must not let them get to you Brett.
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help Brett Karch
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Don't blame Brett or his parents for this.Accidents happen and its unfortunate.I read the article and I don't think anyone really wanted any of this to happen, but it did.So all you people who keep writing in here about how he is going to get all this money from a lawsuit, just keep your damn mouths shut.No one is forcing anyone to donate.You aren't the ones who got shot with a cannon and then rejected by your community.If you don't have anything encouraging to say to a boy who almost lost his leg, then don't say anything at all.I can't believe you people.

Best of luck to you Brett.
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Funds will be sent directly to Brett Karch - Fundable Admin

Posted by admin at 2006-12-21 15:05 We have verified that funds raised are for Brett Karch.
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Get Well soon Brett!
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I fully support Brett and have contributed to his recovery fund ... as for the people of Snohomish, you should be ashamed of your callous indifference over Brett's serious injury, although he'll have the last laugh once he makes it into the Marines and your beloved football heroes are stuck working @ the local McDonald's for minimum wage.
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Brett, You have support

Brett Karch, an ROTC student, almost lost his leg due to a cannon explosion at a football game.The town's reaction?Threaten to break his other leg if the story gets out to the media causing them to possibly lose their ritual shooting of the cannon during football games, sick.

Criminal charges have been filed against a Snohomish woman for making telephone threats about Brett Karch, the ROTC student badly injured when a cannon exploded at a high school football game.

Reporter Carol Smith's original story on Karch -- SeattlePI.com's most-read story of 2006 -- made him an online cause celebre.
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In today's follow-up, Carol also notes that Karch and his familiy have received more public support in the ensuing weeks.