Photo: Ruben Ray Jurado in Custody After Shooting Soldier Chris Sullivan
Monday, Ruben Ray Jurado turned himself in to Chino Hills police near Los Angeles after allegedly shooting returning soldier Christopher Sullivan at the Sullivan family’s homecoming party.
Though he survived a suicide bombing attack in Afghanistan, Sullivan, 19, is fighting for his life in a Southern California hospital after being shot by Jurado on Friday.
Sullivan is said to be in critical condition after being shot twice, once in the neck, shattering his spine, leaving him paralyzed from the neck down.
The shooting is said to have happened after Sullivan’s 16-year-old brother and Jurado began arguing about sports teams at the soldier’s homecoming party in San Bernadino. When the altercation turned physical, Sullivan attempted to break it up, which is when witnesses say Jurado pulled out a gun and began shooting.
While in Afghanistan, Sullivan was wounded when a suicide bomber attacked his unit. The member of the 101st Infantry Division suffered a cracked collarbone and brain damage. He was stationed in Kentucky where he was recovering before returning to his family’s Southern California home on leave.
For his actions in Kandahar, Sullivan received a Purple Heart. His enlistment period was scheduled to end in April, after which he planned to return to California and attend college. Now paralyzed, Sullivan requires a machine to help him breathe.
Jurado has booked on suspicion of attempted murder and has been transferred from Chino Hills to the San Bernadino Police Department.
