Bystander paralyzed in shooting receives 'life-changing gift'

AURORA, Ill. (WGN) — Paralyzed in a drive by shooting eight years ago, an Aurora man got a gift this week that he says is life changing.

25-year-old Tre Winfrey has been paralyzed from the neck down since March of 2007. He was an innocent bystander in the wrong place at the wrong time during a drive by shooting.

Since then, the organization Triple Threat Mentoring, based in Aurora, has helped with money, rides and whatever the Winfreys needed.

Wednesday, the surprised the Winfrey family with a shiny, almost new wheelchair accessible Mercedes van.

The gift they will open doors for Tre and take him on the open road to see what he's been missing. Tre wants to go to school and become a computer programmer. He will return to Waubonsee Community College the Fall. And the van will help him get to class on time.