Man shot in St. Louis post-game mugging may be paralyzed

ST. LOUIS -- A man who was mugged and shot in the back after leaving a St. Louis Cardinals game with his girlfriend has a shattered spinal cord that could leave him paralyzed, his mother said.

Christopher Sanna, 43, of House Springs, Missouri, was wounded Friday night and remains hospitalized, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.

His mother, Candis Sanna, said surgeons told the family Sunday night her son's spinal cord cannot be repaired.

"They said he could eventually get a little feeling back, but there was no hope for him to walk. It's horrible," she said.

Christopher Sanna -- an Army veteran who manages an automotive store -- and his girlfriend were walking to his car after celebrating his mother's 60th birthday with siblings at the Cardinals game when the couple was approached by a gunman who stepped from a dark-colored sedan and demanded their belongings.

The couple complied, with the woman giving up her purse.

The couple turned to flee when the gunman opened fire, wounding Sanna.

"As soon as they gave them the stuff, they were going to try to run away, but he shot them. They were within arm's reach," Candis Sanna said. "People say, 'Be aware of your surroundings.' Well, he was very aware of his surroundings. A car stopped at a red light, and the door flew open. Then they knew this can't be good. The guy ran up to him; it happened so fast."

After his girlfriend called 911, Christopher Sanna lay on the pavement and called his mother's cellphone but could not reach her.

So he left a voicemail that said: "Mom, I've been shot."

St. Louis police said over the weekend they have no suspects and could not provide a detailed description of the attackers or their vehicle.

A message seeking an update on the investigation was left Monday with a police spokeswoman.