Parents want arrest in Marine shooting

A Twentynine Palms Marine who fought for freedom in Afghanistan now fights for his life after being shot in the head on American soil.

Craig Maddy’s frustrated parents want an arrest.

“He was the all American all-American kid,” said John Arnold, Maddy’s Stepfather.

Maddy, 21, had just finished a tour in Afghanistan. Our cameras were there when his unit came home.

A few weeks later, Maddy would be confined to a hospital bed, not able unable to speak.

“It’s really quite likely that there is no person as such left inside there,” said Vandi Arnold, Maddy’s mother.

Someone shot Maddy in the head during a chase from Palm Springs to Desert Hot Springs.

“He came home safe from the war, he gets shot here in America at a birthday party,” said John Arnold.

Desert Hot Springs police continue to piece together the events leading up to the drive-by shooting, but nearly five months later, Maddy’s parents feel someone should be in jail by now.

“I think these guys out there have been really pathetic and I’ve been extremely disappointed in their response because as we’ve seen in Boston and other places in California, when law enforcement is motivated, they can catch the bad guy really quick,” said Vandi Arnold.

Police said they are pursuing active leads, but they need the public’s help.

“Obviously we would have liked to solved this the very next day, but unfortunately there are some complex issues that we are trying to deal with and it’s taken some time,” said Detective Jim Henson.

Henson says said he cares a great deal about this case, and understands how Maddy’s parents feel.

“A Marine coming back from Afghanistan and living through that and then having to come here and have this happen to them where they were just trying to get back to the Marine base, it is frustrating,” said Henson.

Maddy is in Houston recovering. He’s most likely blind and deaf, and has no ability to move his body at will.

“Craig’s body is alive and he may recover in some shape or form, but the Craig who he was has died,” said Vandi Arnold.

His parents gave up their lives to spend every moment at his side.

“It’s awful, it’s awful because here is what I keep thinking that there is somebody out there who is actually bragging about what they’ve done,” said Vanid Arnold. “He was going to be an addition to the world.”

Since we began working on this story, detectives talked with Craig’s Maddy’s family, but they can’t tell them everything they know without compromising the investigation.Right now, police say investigation.

Police said they need more information from the public. The shooting happened between 1:30 and 2:15 in the morning on December 6th, on Indian Canyon north of 20th Avenue.

“Anybody that was traveling down Indian Canyon that witnessed either two cars racing or three cars or what appeared to be road rage, we would like information,” said Henson.

If you have any information, call Valley Crimestoppers at 760-341-STOP. You can remain anonymous and could be eligible for a $1,000 reward.

Because Maddy was on active duty during the time of the shooting, his medical care is covered by the government, but there are still a number of expenses. A fund has been set up in his name, Click here for more information.