Critically Injured Florida State Football Player Was Shot in the Back of His Head

The father of the Florida State football player who was shot and critically injured over the weekend is speaking out.

Ethan Pritchard’s father Earl Pritchard told ABC affiliate WFTV that his son was shot in the back of the head and is in stable condition.

“Just ask the community and everybody for their prayers,” Earl told the station.

The freshman linebacker is “heavily sedated” and doctors are waiting to assess damage due to swelling in his head, the father said.

A freshman linebacker for the Seminoles, Pritchard was shot on Sunday, Aug. 31 near Tallahassee, Fla., hours after the team won its first game of the season over Alabama.

Pritchard was visiting family members in Havana, Fla. when the incident occurred, his father said.

“He was actually in the car taking my sister around the corner to her daughter’s house to drop her off,” Earl Pritchard told WFTV. “They turned the corner, and as soon as they turned the corner, they heard gunshots.”

According to ESPN, an investigation led by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office is ongoing.

A spokesman for the sheriff’s office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

Meanwhile, Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell told reporters on Wednesday, Sept. 3 that he was able to briefly visit the player.

“It’s a lot, not going to say it’s not,” Norvell said. “I try to give the players a daily update. … I was able to go by yesterday for a short period of time with limited visitation, just getting a chance to be there for a handful of minutes. It was good to be with him.”

He added, “He’s still in stable condition. … We are absolutely praying for him every day and trying to be there for our players, too. Yes, it’s one thing on the field, but it’s also off the field, that’s one of their brothers and a guy they deeply care about. Just working through this part of the tragedy of what it is.”