Police arrest a man they say shot and likely paralyzed a 29-year-old man as he walked home from watching Monday Night Football with his friends.
Officers announced Tuesday that 20-year-old Christopher Easter, of the 1500 block of Poplar Street, was taken into custody. Easter has been identified as the alleged shooter. Court records indicate Easter has a history of robbery charges.
The shooting happened just a block from the victim's home.
The family of the victim, Kevin Neary, says his spine was shattered when he was shot in the neck, and that Kevin will likely be paralyzed for life from the neck down.
"Kevin has a strength of spirit that will make him get through this," said his father Joe Neary, Sr.
Philadelphia Police say Easter shot Neary in the wee hours of the morning on November 15, in Northern Liberties.
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The incident happened as Neary walked along the 700 block of Bodine Street, according to Philadelphia Police.
Easter allegedly approached Neary with a handgun and attempted to rob him, police said.
During the encounter, police say the alleged thief shot Neary once in the neck.
"(The Victim) didn't resist," said Police Lt. Patrick Dougherty. "Before he had a chance to even respond the male shot him in the head."
The gunfire awoke Neary's roommate and some neighbors who called for help.
Neary was unable to speak in the days following the shooting but was communicating with his family through letters on a board. Family members tell NBC Philadelphia, Neary had a spinal fusion on Monday.
"It just makes us really sad that his life is going to be changed forever because someone decided to do this to him," said Kevin's brother Chris Neary.
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