As reported by The Washington Post, and several news media, a 19 year-old man has been arrested and arraigned in the shooting of an army soldier, while the two men were at a party celebrating the veteran’s return from the Afghan war.
R.R.J., of San Bernardino, has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder. The arraignment, lasting approximately two minutes, was held in San Bernardino Superior Court. He is in custody in the West Valley Detention Center with a bail set of $1 million. His next court date, the deposition hearing, is scheduled for January 9.
The victim, Army Spc. C.S., remains in critical condition since the December 23 shooting – his family contends that he suffered a shattered spine and is now paralyzed.
Police arrested R.R.J. on December 26 and he is facing four sentencing enhancements along with the charge for attempted murder.
C.S., 22, had received the Purple Heart during his tour of duty. In December of 2010 he was injured in a suicide bomb attack while in Afghanistan. He is currently a member of the 101st Airborne Division. He is based at the Fort Campbell Army post – which is located between the borders of Kentucky and Tennessee.
R.R.J. answered “Yes, your Honor” when the judge asked if he agreed to waiving his right to a speedy trial – he spoke only the one time during the hearing. Michael J. Holmes is the defense attorney representing R.R.J. Holmes, as well as R.R.J.’s family members that attended the courthouse, failed to comment to reporters as they filed out after the hearing concluded.
Originally R.R.J. had been scheduled for a videoconference for his arraignment. That plan was postponed as R.R.J. requested to appear in court in person.
There are differing accounts as to how R.R.J. attended C.S.’s homecoming party. Holmes contends that his client, a friend of C.S.’s for many years, was invited. C.S.’s mother, however, said that R.R.J. was definitely not invited as a guest.
R.R.J. stated that guests at the party partook in inhaling the nitrous oxide gas held in helium balloons and drinking large amounts of alcohol. Per R.R.J. he was unwittingly attacked and kicked as he tried to leave the party.
But authorities, just as C.S.’s mother had an opposing view, said that it was R.R.J. that became aggressive toward C.S.’s brother at the party, not the other way around.
The two men, C.S.’s brother and R.R.J., had begun arguing about football teams when R.R.J. struck C.S.’s brother. When C.S. intervened, R.R.J. allegedly pulled out a gun and fired multiple rounds into C.S. Police reported that one of the bullets caught C.S. in the neck.
In C.S.’s earlier attack, while serving in Afghanistan, he sustained a cracked collarbone and brain damage. He had been in Kentucky for recovery just before he was released to come home to spend the holidays with his family.
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