Calif. soldier paralyzed at his homecoming party

Suzanne Sullivan holds a photo of her son Christopher Sullivan, an Army soldier, outside her home in San Bernardino, Calif., Dec. 24, 2011. / Gabriel Luis Acosta,AP Photo/The San Bernardino Sun

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. - An Army soldier who survived a suicide bombing while serving in Afghanistan has been left paralyzed after being shot at his homecoming party in Southern California.

Christopher Sullivan, 22, was shot late Friday while trying to break up a fight between his brother and another man at a San Bernardino residence.

"My son didn't deserve this. He served his country," his mother, Suzanne Sullivan, told the San Bernardino Sun (http://bit.ly/sjycMA).

Suzanne Sullivan said her son suffered two gunshot wounds to his back, which shattered his spine. Family members told the newspaper that the shooting late Friday left Sullivan paralyzed and in critical condition.

Police said Sullivan's brother and a partygoer got into an argument. When Sullivan moved to intervene, the man pulled a gun and opened fire.

The gunman fled the scene before police arrived.

Sullivan was wounded in a suicide bombing attack last year in Kandahar while serving with the 101st Infantry Division.

He suffered a cracked collar bone and brain damage in the attack and has been recovering in Kentucky where he is stationed.

He was home on leave when the shooting occurred.

His enlistment would be complete in April, after which Sullivan had planned to come home to go to college.

Family members are calling on the shooter to surrender.

Police have not identified the suspect.

[Drillsetc]

That is a sad story.

[smittyc]

It's California folks. The state where if you don't abuse drugs you are a freak. The guy that shot the soldier was probably just let out of prison because of the unfair verdict he received for using crack cocaine. Will they catch the shooter? It doesn't matter if they do, they don't punish them, it's a violation of their human rights. Oh well, these things happen,what can one do? Just glad it wasn't me.

[MagnaCartaUK]

No doubt the man who paralysed him was regularly drinking himself into oblivion at the same time Mr. Sullivan was risking life and limb serving his country. Well Done the imbecilic plank who crippled him - perhaps you should sign up for the Taliban, because you're of no worth to your own country. ... I sincerely hope this brave young chap has the inner strength to overcome this latest trauma - along with the patience to hear an endless stream of apologies. Rise above it Mr. Sullivan, I've a strange feeling you will in the end, and in life too.

[MegaProcrastination]

"My son didn't deserve this. He served his country," his mother, Suzanne Sullivan, told the San Bernardino Sun"

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I don't want to attack the mom over that statement but it is completely irrelevant. It doesn't matter who this kind of thing would happen to, it's a horrible thing. I feel badly for this fellow and hope he can make a good recovery--this is awful.

Having said that, though, this is exactly the kind of nonsense that goes on because way too many men aren't taught to control their anger and violent tendencies, instead allowing themselves to be ruled by their egos and pride.

[sepa2]

This is what continual war does to the welfare of the civil society

[jpmjr56]

Our hearts go out to you our son serves with the 101st and we are from temecula we pray that his shooter is caught and that jesus will heal your son!!!!!!!!!!!!! the millers

[windmillchaser]

Well lets see, I see a toddler killed a 5 yr old. Now we have a soldier killed by his own country man in his own country. Nice wow. So I know that we have a culture of guns here. The culture in Idaho and Montana is different than the cities. Most of the Montanan's and Idahoan's understand gun safety. Every time we have these kinds of shootings a collective so of 'Oh well.' The NRA is silent as is the liberal party goers. No one wants to address the issue head on. Since the posse commitatus is no longer I have a solution.

Public Law 109-364, or the "John Warner Defense Authorization Act of 2007" (H.R.5122) (2), which was signed by the commander in chief on October 17th, 2006, in a private Oval Office ceremony, allows the President to declare a "public emergency" and station troops anywhere in America and take control of state-based National Guard units without the consent of the governor or local authorities, in order to "suppress public disorder."

President Bush seized this unprecedented power on the very same day that he signed the equally Military Commissions Act of 2006. In a sense, the two laws complement one another. One allows for torture and detention abroad, while the other seeks to enforce acquiescence at home, preparing to order the military onto the streets of America. Remember, the term for putting an area under military law enforcement control is precise; the term is "martial law."

The mayors and city council's would petition the governor who would then petition the President of the United States. Troops would go into gang infested areas. ICE, FBI, Local Sheriffs, Local Police would have a command post set up and a liaison between the civil and military would be maintained until the 'gang problem' was corrected.

Too scary? Too late. The law's on the books already.Use it get control of some of our most gang led cities.

[AMale53]

The Sky is falling, the sky is falling... Oops, didn't mean to imply you are chicken little but if you actually did any research you would have found that HR5122 was repealed. If you can, read the entire page at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insurrection_Act

[sweetcakesmaria]

Says a lot about our Country. We look at all the strife in other countries but fail to recognize that we have the same strife here in America.

[signseeker1717]

This isn't even "warfare" or "declared hostilities" as we've known it. This SOLDIER was shot in his own home by an unknown individual for no know reason (at least not reported here). There may not be any discernible "strife"; it may just be SENSELESS.

What it says about 'us" is almost to sad for words.

[absentloki]

Sorry for what has happened. But, for this Canadian, does this not show America's culture of violence and guns makes the US as dangerous as nations in full scale war.

[DoctorGlennPHD]

Say what??

[Cheffo123]

It's actually the other way around in this case. It was the soldier who was shot by a thug. The soldier, already wounded from battle, was trying to stop a fight. He seems like a good guy. Even after heavy combat, most soldiers don't come back to civilian life and cause trouble. If that thug was in the military he probably would have learned some respect and discipline. By the way, Mexico is way more violent than the US, and they do not have a culture of guns. It's about drugs and money, always has been, back to Al Capone. People just don't watch Rambo movies and go and murder. If the drug trade picks up in Canada so will violence. At least some of us here can defend ourselves though, with licensed weapons.

[darwufche]

When they catch this coward 'perp', he should be dropped into mountains of Afghanistan.