Milton shooting victim released from hospital

A Milton musician who was shot on New Year’s Eve has been released from Beebe Healthcare.

A Facebook post from Mark Gratton’s mother, Terri Hoggan-Gratton, said Gratton was released from the hospital Jan. 6 and will continue his recovery at home. 

Gratton, who teaches piano and plays in Milton-area restaurants like Sydney’s and The Fox Hole, was shot in the abdomen with a shotgun in the 500 block of Union Street Dec. 31, reportedly by an ex-girlfriend. Milton Police Chief Derrick Harvey said the suspect was arrested the night of the shooting while sitting in a vehicle near the woods on Burton Road. He said Gratton suffered a single gunshot wound to the torso. Harvey said the investigation is still ongoing.

Hoggan-Gratton, who lives in South Carolina, said in her post, “He has a long road ahead to try to make his new normal and get back to teaching piano and sharing his love through music.”

A GoFundMe page set up to help with Gratton’s medical bills has raised more than $22,000. He had part of his colon and small intestine surgically removed.

Gratton had been scheduled to play the Fox Hole on Jan. 1. After his shooting, owner Kristen Latham set up Gratton’s piano stool with a tip jar where people could donate to help with his medical bills. 

Latham said, “He’s a very talented man. We love having him play music in our restaurant, and pray he’s home healthy and ready to play for us super soon!”