Victim of Dover Serial Shooter speaks on recovery journey

DOVER, Del. – 25-year-old Christopher Ulrich Jr. has a long road of recovery ahead of him, after being shot once in the hand and back by 20-year-old Jaquan Fletcher at on December 8th. It was an ambush-style shooting near his home, and Ulrich was struck by gunfire while walking down Village Drive and Quail Hollow Drive.

Now walking with a limp and cane, and using machines to help him breathe through a punctured lung following a lengthy hospital stay, Ulirch tells 47 ABC WMDT he still remembers the events of the night of the shooting in great detail.

He tells us he was on a FaceTime call just feet from his home, when he felt shots moving past him and striking his hand. Ulrich says he turned around, and saw a car, and a man shooting at him, and then his vision went white.

“I heard white noise and then I woke up on the ground, my phone was at my feet, but my feet from my waist down they’re dead,” Ulrich said.

Ulrich then dragged himself from the road, where he had fallen, to call 911 and his mother. He says the last thing he remembers before blacking out was her screaming, and EMTs loading him onto a stretcher.

He would later learn his lung had been punctured and was filling up with blood, as the bullet shattered multiple vertebrae, narrowly missing his spinal cord.

“I’m trying to better my life to the fullest. I’m trying to take advantage of this second chance that I got, to be able to stand and walk on this earth again,” Ulrich said, calling himself lucky to still be able to walk and to be alive.

Ulrich tells 47 ABC WMDT he knew the other victims of Fletcher’s shootings; 42-year-old Frederick Tolson was fatally shot walking out of a Wawa on December 14th. Ulrich says he is still grappling with why the suspect would target random people.

“I would see [Tolson] at the bar he was the sweetest person, always trying to give me lessons about life,” Ulrich said.

Ulrich says he is also still trying to understand with why the suspect chose his victims at random, and the consequences that the victims and their families now live with.

“Why would he just go and shoot us? Who are you? Why are you in our areas shooting us? What did we do to you? What did we do to deserve this?” Ulrich questioned. “We all just want to know why.”

Ulrich says is struggling mentally, dealing with the trauma of the day.

“It’s been a tough, tough man,” said Ulrich. “I mean, just to walk down the street feeling exposed. You’re not bulletproof, man. I thought I was. I’m not,” Ulrich said, adding he now looks over his shoulder, and feels unsafe in his neighborhood.

“Mentally, I’m not here. I do have a lot of flashbacks, I do have a lot of there are times where I keep seeing the guy shoot me,” Ulrich said. “The way it feels for the bullet to go through my body, I can feel it every day, and I can’t focus,” Ulrich said.

Despite the daily battle, Ulrich remains motivated to improve his life; saying, he is looking to re-enroll and finish his education, better his health, and improve himself.

“To be even glad to stand up is a miracle,” Ulrich said. “But the fact that I’m here is more of a blessing than anything. I got to see another year, I’ve got to see the faces of my family, just the smiles, the happy laughs, and everything I get to experience.”

In a statement to 47 ABC WMDT, Ulrich’s father, Christopher Ulrich Sr. said “My son, family, and those of the other victims have been scarred permanently both physically and mentally. It is my wish if the accused is found guilty that he be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

Both say they were disappointed to see that bail had been set for Fletcher. The Ulrichs say that the $1.2 million bond figure still allows for the chance for Fletcher to get back on the street prior to trial.

Ulrich’s father says they hope the trial will bring closure but the family still has mounting medical bills following the shooting and care moving forward. Anyone interested in helping the family can visit a GoFundMe that has been established to help.