Shooting victim left paralyzed

By Jim Haley

Herald Writer

EVERETT — The spray of bullets that felled Jason Hunter in his parents’ driveway on Rucker Hill Oct. 22 apparently will leave him paralyzed from the waist down, his father said Thursday.

"They say it’s 99 percent, but there’s always cases where the miracle happens and they do walk again," Dan Hunter said. "They haven’t ruled out (walking again) completely."

Anyone with information about the shooting or suspect is asked to call the Everett Police Department tip line, 425-257-8450. The sketch is available at www.everettpolice.org under “news and information” and then “press releases.”

The younger Hunter, who is 25, remained in Harborview Medical Center in Seattle fighting infection and waiting for transfer soon to another hospital for physical therapy.

Meanwhile, Everett police released a sketch of a person who is wanted in connection with the shooting — a crime that continues to baffle police and the Hunters. Jason Hunter helped police prepare a sketch of his assailant, described as in his 40s.

The victim’s dad remains confounded more than a week after the incident.

"We’re really at a loss," Dan Hunter said. "The guy didn’t ask for any money from Jason. He just came up and started shooting as if he was a hit man or something."

It would have been easier, Dan Hunter said, if their son had weaknesses, such as drugs, that would have attracted a criminal element that could do something like this. That would have been a start to understanding why it happened.

As it is, he and his family are stumped.

Jason Hunter, who worked and went to night school at Edmonds Community College, arrived at his parents’ home in the 1000 block of Charles Avenue about 8:30 p.m. that Monday.

He parked at the side of the driveway and reached into the ashtray to pull out his parents’ house key. Dan and Lynn Hunter were expecting him for a visit and some dinner.

As soon as he stepped out, "the guy was on him," Dan Hunter said. The assailant had a coat or blanket wrapped around his arm to muffle the six rapid shots from close range.

"He thinks the guy was lurking around the cars and our carport," Dan Hunter said, adding that it was possible the shooter had been planning a burglary or a robbery at the house.

But if that were the case, why didn’t the suspect try to rob his son, Dan Hunter wonders.

The shooter ran up a path at the end of Charles Avenue that leads to Federal Avenue near Jackson Elementary School. A police dog later lost the man’s scent in that area, Dan Hunter said.

Jason Hunter used his wireless telephone to call for help. His parents, who had been using a vacuum cleaner, didn’t hear the shots. That bothers Dan Hunter, who said if his son hadn’t been able to call on the wireless telephone things could have turned out worse.

"Thank God he had a cell phone and was able to call on his own," Dan Hunter said.

He was shot five times: twice in the arms, once in the upper leg and twice in the back, Dan Hunter said. A sixth bullet lodged in his wallet, which had been in his back pocket.

He said his son, who spent four years in the Navy after leaving Everett High School in 1994, plans to finish at Edmonds College before continuing at a four-year institution. He recently joined the National Guard and is disappointed he won’t be able to contribute to the war on terrorism, Dan Hunter said.

The police investigation has been frustrating because there are few clues and no suspects.

"I want to make sure the guy sees the sketch when he reads the article and he knows that Jason could give the sketch," Dan Hunter said.

Jason Hunter talked briefly in an interview from his hospital bed at Harborview.

Everything happened so fast, he said. He feels a little anger and disappointment.

"I feel a lot of different things," he said.

But the big thing, he said, is that his family and friends are still with him and are supportive.

"Everybody who was important in my life before is here. It doesn’t seem to have changed since this happened," he said.

"My main goal now is to take it day by day and get better," Jason Hunter added. "What else can you do?"

You can call Herald Writer Jim Haley at 425-339-3447

or send e-mail to haley@heraldnet.com.

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