BAKER COUNTY, Fla. — The mother of a Baker County gas station clerk shot during an attempted robbery spoke with First Coast News about her son who remains hospitalized in critical condition Wednesday night.

Caleb Stewart Matthews was working at the Royalty Smoke and Gas Station Tuesday night when authorities say he was shot by a man attempting to steal alcohol.

The Baker County Sheriff’s Office identified the suspect as 22-year-old Kevin James Manley, who entered the store with a 14-year-old boy.

Investigators say a fight broke out when Matthews tried to stop the theft, and Manley opened fire, critically wounding the clerk.

“He’s going to survive this, and hopefully you will spend the rest of your life rotting in jail,” Matthews’ mother, Kathy Swafford, told First Coast News.

Swafford described her son as a beloved member of the Macclenny community, known for his generosity and kindness to customers.

“Everybody he has come across working at that convenience store has fell in love with Caleb and Caleb with them,” Swafford said. “He would give his shirt off his back if someone needed it.”

After undergoing two surgeries, Matthews is now off a ventilator but faces a long recovery.

“It’s going to be several months before he is back to maybe a little bit of normalcy,” Swafford said. She called the shooting a senseless act of violence and urged the community to keep her son in their prayers.

“Just keep him in your thoughts. Keep praying that he gets better and that this person gets what they deserve,” she said.

According to the arrest report, the 14-year-old present during the incident tried to convince Manley to return the stolen alcohol and was not involved in the shooting. The juvenile faces no charges, while Manley has been charged with attempted second-degree murder, robbery and child neglect.

Community members have expressed shock and heartbreak over the violence, describing Matthews as a terrific man who didn’t deserve this.

A GoFundMe has been set up to help with medical expenses.