21-year-old man who received the organs.

The Associated Press
WFLS News

Date published: 12/4/2008

CLIFTON, N.J. (AP) - Lungs from a good Samaritan killed in a New Jersey church shooting are breathing new life thanks to a transplant.

John Muscarella, the 21-year-old man who received the organs, was discharged from Newark's Beth Israel Hospital Wednesday afternoon.

Muscarella underwent a double lung transplant last week. He received the organs from Dennis Malloosseril, one of the shooting victims at the St. Thomas Syrian Orthodox Knanaya Church in Clifton.

Witnesses said the 25-year-old Malloosseril was killed when he interceded in a dispute between 24-year-old Reshma James and her estranged husband, Joseph Palliparuth.

Malloosseril was shot in the head, along with James and James' 47-year-old cousin. She remains hospitalized.

Palliparuth is awaiting extradition from Georgia, where he was arrested on charges of homicide, attempted homicide, aggravated assault and weapons offenses.

Watch report here

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Date published: 12/4/2008