Wounded Asheley Jewell recognizes mom's voice

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By Larry Hartstein

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Asheley Jewell remained in critical condition Friday, but her family says the 15-year-old is showing some progress.

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Asheley Jewell is the daughter of the late A.J. Jewell, a "Real Housewives of Atlanta" personality who died in 2009 after a fist fight outside an Atlanta strip club. She was shot March 5, 2011 in an apparent road rage incident.

Courtesy of the family Asheley Jewell is the daughter of the late A.J. Jewell, a "Real Housewives of Atlanta" personality who died in 2009 after a fist fight outside an Atlanta strip club. She was shot March 5, 2011 in an apparent road rage incident.

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Jewell, a Stephenson High sophomore, was shot in the head last Saturday night in an apparent road rage incident in south Fulton County. Multiple shots were fired at the car Jewell was riding in. None of the other passengers or the driver was struck.

"She is still technically listed as critical, but she does seem to recognize her mom's voice, and she makes attempts to follow simple commands they give her, like to squeeze their hands," her cousin, Ebony Phillips, told the AJC. "She can't really do it physically but there's a cognitive foundation they might be able to build on."

Jewell still has a lot of swelling in her brain and is sedated most of the time, Phillips said. But she added: "We're very, very thankful" for the progress.

Friends and relatives will hold a candlelight vigil for Jewell on Saturday near the site of the shooting. The vigil starts at 7 p.m. at O'Reilly Auto Parts, 5549 Old National Highway in College Park.

About 10:30 p.m. last Saturday, Fulton police said, two vehicles were traveling on Old National Highway near Jerome Road when one began pursuing the other. Shots were fired and Jewell, a passenger in the car being chased, was hit.

She was rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital, where she underwent surgery.

Police said it appeared to be a road rage incident, but that they're "looking into every possible motive." Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers at 404-577-8477.

Phillips said Jewell had gone out with friends to get something to eat.

"She wasn't even driving," Phillips said. "Whatever was going on between the two drivers, she had nothing to do with it."

Jewell is the daughter of the late A.J. Jewell, a "Real Housewives of Atlanta" personality who died in 2009 after a fist fight outside an Atlanta strip club. A club employee was charged with voluntary manslaughter, but the charge was dropped after authorities determined Jewell died from a sickle cell crisis.

A.J. Jewell was the onetime fiance of "Housewives" cast member Kandi Burruss.

Phillips said the vigil "is a step toward healing a family victimized by senseless violence" and "a call for justice in hopes that someone will come forward with invaluable information about this case."