Pastor upgraded to stable condition

COEUR d'ALENE — Pastor Tim Remington is making strides in recovery, even joking at times, but it will likely be weeks until he is released from the hospital after being shot at least six times on Sunday, family members said.

Remington, pastor of The Altar Church in Coeur d'Alene, remained in the intensive care unit at Kootenai Health and was upgraded to stable condition on Thursday. He was in serious condition on Wednesday.

"He is on the healing track and not going backward," said Josiah Remington, a son of Tim's. "We are so grateful for the prayers and support."

Jeremiah Remington, another son of Tim's, said his father is still heavily sedated to reduce the pain.

"He can talk, but is not talking much due to the pain medication and he's trying to rest," Jeremiah said. "He has no brain trauma and his mental state is 100 percent."

Kyle Odom, 30, of Coeur d'Alene, allegedly shot the pastor in the parking lot of the church. Odom flew to Washington, D.C., on Monday from Boise and was arrested on Tuesday night in the nation’s capital after allegedly throwing flash drives and other items over the southern fence at the White House. He is being held without bail in D.C. until his April 6 extradition hearing.

Josiah said his father remembers being shot and the moments after the incident.

"He remembers hearing my little brother Jadon's voice before he went in the ambulance," Josiah said. "He was conscious the whole time."

Josiah said his father had not had contact with Odom before.

"One of my dad's first questions was that he didn't know why it happened," Josiah said. "He’s confused about why (Odom) would do that."

Jeremiah said is father is in good spirits and even cracking jokes, trying to be strong.

"I was in (the hospital) a couple months ago in the hospital after a softball accident and he took photos of me in compromising positions, swollen and messed up," Jeremiah said. "I told him that I’d get plenty of pictures of him now. He said, 'Well, I've got you beat (with injuries) now, son."

Josiah said the shooting and his father's miraculous survival has cemented the family's faith even more.

"To be shot with a .45-caliber weapon multiple times, including in the skull, and not be hit in any major organs or the brain, it's one miracle after another," he said.

Jeremiah added: "It was a God thing through and through. His time is not up. He still has work to do."

The brothers said the family appreciates the outpouring of financial, food and prayer support from the community. A room at the hospital has been reserved for family and friends to gather as pastor Tim recovers.

Josiah said he was relieved when Odom was arrested, as Odom's manifesto listed several other potential targets.

"Thank God he can't hurt anybody else," Josiah said.

Jeremiah added: "When it went from high-alert status — shutting down the church and being stressful — to having him caught in Washington, D.C., there was a flood of relief."

Jeremiah said his dad has always been about helping people, including through his drug rehabilitation program, and that would include Odom if he were given the opportunity.

"My dad is 100 percent about bringing people to God," Jeremiah said. "If (Odom) showed up in the Kootenai County jail tomorrow, my dad would want to go there to talk to him. He's just that kind of guy."