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Northeast Philadelphia Shooting Victim Slowly Recovering

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Oren Liebermann

Reporting Oren Liebermann

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By Oren Liebermann

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Kevin Neary has had every reason to stop smiling, but the joy of the 29-year-old has never left him.

“His smile is great,” says his father, Joe Neary. “He has the best smile.”

Neary was moved to Magee Rehabilitation Center Friday morning, a month after a bullet to the neck paralyzed the UPenn graduate. Neary was walking home on North Bodine Street when an attempted robbery turned into a shooting.

“He’s had some down moments, but his spirit bounces back pretty quick,” says his brother, Joe Neary. “So it’s good for him and we just need to be strong for him.”

The suspect, Christopher Easter, 20, was in court for his preliminary hearing Friday morning. He will face charges for the attempted murder of Kevin Neary.

“He’s still going to be a quadriplegic,” says his father. “Nothing is going to change that, but he has a very, very positive attitude, and he will succeed.”

Kevin is only able to say a few words at a time, three or four words at most. But his family says hearing him say those words makes everybody smile.

“He knows that people have been reaching out to him and he wants to live a normal life as much as possible,” his brother says.

Kevin’s family relies on the optimism of a young man whose life will never be the same. It is an optimism everyone shares, both for Kevin’s recovery and for Christopher Easter being brought to justice.

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  • Dee

    Yet another example of a student with aspirations and motivation to succeed. Working hard to better himself and society. To be a victim of crime by a neighborhood “whatever” … perhaps bring in the National Guard.. the city has become a crime cesspool… neighborhoods continue to deteriorate… from litter strewn about, animal abuse to crime against human beings. Disgusting

  • Wise One

    Find a country willing to set up for-profit labor camps under contract to the U.S. government. Send the convicted violent thugs who because of various statel laws cannot be executed to perform hard labor for life at these offshore labor camps .

    • DEAR WISE ONE PLS DONT

      READ THE FAULKNER VS MUMIA SUPPORTER IDIOTS HERE, FOR THAT IS ANOTHER GENTLEMAN WHO BELONGS ON THAT ISLAND ALSO

      SAYS HH OF OXFORD CIRCLE

      • Gra pe A pe Rules

        The Easter Jun gle Bu nny needs to swing with Mu mia.

  • anon

    I think he’s going to talk more and see a good recovery ahead of him. I know this means nothing to people reading , but I’m not usually wrong about these things.

  • THESE KYW CEN SORS

    ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE VALUE OF AN EDUCATION. GET SHOT BY THE
    GOOD CITIZENS OF PHILLY AND THEN WATCH THE PRESS SAY THEY ARE
    NOT TO BLAME. ITS THE ENVIRONMENT

    HANG UP HIGH SAYS HH OF OXFORD CIRCLE

  • THESE KYW CEN SORS

    CRACK HH OF OXFORD CIRCLE UP. CANT SAY ANYTHING THE FOLKS WHO
    KILL US. OR WE ARE SUBJECT TO MOD ERA TIOIN. NAME SANE

    • A waiting Mo der ation Too HH

      They can cen sor us, but they can’t silence us.

  • Ted Pikul

    Northern Liberties isn’t the Northeast. It’s almost Center City, and it’s a popular, revitalized neighborhood that brings a lot of people to this city, and if the city can’t keep people from shooting other people in a neighborhood like that, within a couple of miles of City Hall, then maybe it’s over.

  • LEGALPHILLY.com

    I think this kid is going to make it! Never under estimate the power of the will to live! Good luck pal! http://www.legalphilly.com

  • RealisticViewpoint

    Biggups to thug life, this is why i let my kids watch BET and meek millz videos. I love the black culture.

    • amisstree

      Surely, you jest?

  • Hater

    Christopher Easter should be hung by the neck until dead along with the murderous coward Mumia.

    • amisstree

      Hater, I feel you…but I think your punishment is too humane for these two monsters!! I’d have these two savage, barbaric, animals crying for their mothers and praying that death would come quick..You must make an example of them for their peers and for the many young people who seem to follow in this path. You and I at work we would have the PA crime rate next to zero when we were done hanging and torturing these pieces of toxic waste!

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