Wheelchair stolen from paralyzed Margate man

Mitchell Braithwaite, 26, left paralyzed after being victim of shooting at 17

MARGATE, Fla. – A man is without his wheelchair after someone stole it last week.

Mitchell Braithwaite, 26, said he was throwing out the trash when he realized his wheelchair was gone.

"This is the way that I get around," he said. "This is my transportation -- for me to get up and go to the bathroom or take a shower or get something to eat."

Braithwaite was left paralyzed from the waist down after being shot at the age of 17. He lives on his own and has been using a basketball wheelchair the last several days.

"This chair is not intended to be used for what I'm doing every day," he said. "It doesn't have any brakes. It doesn't (have) the support that I need. I'm kinda confined to being in the house unless I have someone to help me and come along with me."

Braithwaite played with the Miami Heat's wheelchair basketball program.

Click here if you would like help Braithwaite raise money for a new wheelchair.