Boston Park Ranger 'On The Mend' After Being Stabbed 5 Times
BOSTON (CBS) - The mother of a park ranger who was stabbed Tuesday on the Boston Common says James Lunnin is "on the mend."
The 25-year-old ranger, who joined the force this year as a seasonal hire, was stabbed five times on the right side, allegedly by a homeless man, who also attacked his partner Sgt. Albert Hurd who remains hospitalized in the intensive care unit.
"We're feeling blessed it turned out the way it did. Could have been a lot worse, feeling fortunate and blessed," said Linda Shaughnessy. Lunnin's mother says he served time in Afghanistan and his training kicked in against the suspect police say is 34-year-old Bodio Hutchinson with a violent and lengthy criminal past.
"He applied some of that actually trying to get away from the gentleman going after him and that saved his life," said Shaughnessy.
Lunnin was able to visit Sgt. Hurd in the hospital before returning to his own home in Dorchester on Wednesday. "I think they were comforted to see each other and know they were okay."
Hurd suffered deep stab wounds to his abdomen but his condition has been upgraded to serious. Ironically, a long-planned fundraiser for the rangers mounted unit was held in Boston Thursday. The unit is sorely in need of yearly funds to keep it going with a force that has been drastically reduced due to budget cuts.
Boston City Councilor Stephen Murphy, chairman of the public safety committee, says it points to the need for more police in the parks to back the rangers and finding the funds to do it. "We're going to redouble our efforts to redirect resources to make certain it doesn't happen again," said Murphy.
Linda Shaughnessy says her family is grateful for the public outpouring and help her son received the day he was stabbed. "He's not moving around too well but he has a lot of people who love him and are taking care of him."
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