Ruben Ray Jurado, the 19-year-old who was arrested for critically wounding an Afghanistan war veteran, says that he was attacked before the shooting.
Jurado was charged on Tuesday for the attempted murder of Christopher Sullivan, a 22-year-old Purple Heart recipient.
According to the Huffington Post, the incident occurred after a fight broke out over a heated football argument. Defense attorney Michael J. Holmes said that his client was being attacked when he fired the gun. Holmes said:
“It appears that he was being attacked and he was on the ground and was being kicked in the back, stomach, the head, and that is consistent with the injuries that I observed… It is alleged at that point that Mr. Sullivan was shot.”
Authorities say that Jurado was arguing with Sullivan’s brother over football teams at a party. When Jurado punched Sullivan’s brother, the war vet stepped in to breakup the fight. Sullivan was shot in the neck during the fight.
Sullivan is still in the hospital in critical conditions. Relatives report that the gun shot shattered his spine and left him paralyzed from the neck down.
His brother Brian Sullivan said:
“He’s opening his eyes more. We’re just waiting day by day.”
Christopher Sullivan, who was injured during a suicide bomb attack in last year, was recovering in Kentucky before returning home for the holidays.
Ruben Ray Jurado was charged with attempted murder. He also faces multiple sentencing enhancements for using a firearm. He is expected to be arraigned this week.
