A local man who was shot last week is catching the attention of people nationwide.
John Lannon was shot in the chest outside China Dragon on east Broadway last week. He was picking up food for his wife when he was asked for money and then shot.
The bullet nicked his heart and his lung collapsed.
John's friends started a website to help raise money for his medical care.
They posted it on November 3rd and one week later they had raised almost $10,000 from people all over the country.
It's a night John Lannon and his family say they will never forget. While picking up a late dinner for his wife at the China Dragon Restaurant, he was shot in the chest.
Tuesday night, he was out of the hospital, but is still recovering.
"I just saw him, his body is a mess, he has holes everywhere. He looks like Frankenstein. There are staples up his entire body," said Lannon’s sister Alice.
She says, even though he is going to be okay, his recovery is going to be long and expensive.
"The recoveries, co-pays, it's going to be a lot of money and he's going to be out of work for a long time. All the things you have to do to recover from being shot in the chest."
So to help pay for his recovery, his friends started a website on Pledgie.com. Within hours, the money started pouring in from people all over the country.
Seven days later, they've raised almost $10,000.
"The social networking has kept everyone breathing and sane," said Alice Lannon.
And now, for the first time since the shooting, John is speaking out through social networking sites.
On his blog he said, “I am deeply grateful to everyone I encountered that evening. Everyone played a necessary role in saving my life. I was extremely lucky and hope to repay all of those people in some way.”
Metro Police do not have anyone in custody and are asking for help in solving this crime. If you have any information, call them at 574-LMPD.
