OAKLAND , California ( CNN ) -- Fifth-grader Christopher Rodriguez sat down Thursday at his piano for his weekly lesson , arched his fingers over the keys and began to play . 10-year-old Christopher Rodriguez was hit by a stray bullet , paralyzing him for life , doctors say . Across the street from Harmony Road Music School in north Oakland , California , Jared Adams , 24 , allegedly raised his gun at a Chevron gas station attendant during a holdup and fired . A bullet ripped through the walls of Christopher 's classroom striking him in his side , piercing his kidney and spleen and lodging in his spine . The bullet barely missed the 10-year-old 's heart . He will likely be paralyzed for life from the waist down , doctors say . `` This is probably the worst thing that 's ever happened to me in my life . I love my son greatly , '' the boy 's father , Richard Rodriguez , said Friday at a news conference . Watch Christopher 's dad describe the ordeal » . Christopher loved music . He had recently taken up African drumming , spent hours listening to classical music and played basketball . `` I feel like half his life was taken from him ; his inability , probably , to walk -- ever , '' Rodriguez said , his voice breaking . Christopher 's mother , Jennifer Rodriguez , had been waiting outside in her SUV for her son 's lesson to end . She not only heard the shots but came close to being hit herself . At least two bullets from Adams ' gun struck her vehicle , police said . On the phone and distracted , she at first dismissed the noises as someone throwing rocks at her SUV . But when she realized it was gunfire , she dashed into her son 's class . Christopher was on the floor , his classmates and instructor hovering over him . `` I ca n't feel my legs ! I ca n't feel my legs ! '' Christopher cried . As emergency workers rushed the boy to the hospital , police were chasing Adams , who was speeding away . Adams rammed his vehicle into a car carrying a woman and her two children and then slammed into a parked car , police said . The woman and children escaped without injury , according to authorities . Adams was charged Monday with attempted murder , robbery , evading a police officer , driving recklessly and being an ex-felon in possession of a firearm , Oakland Police Department spokesman Roland Holmgren told CNN . He 's being held without bail , according to Holmgren . CNN was not immediately able to determine whether he had a lawyer . Authorities found a ski mask , loaded gun and cash at the scene . Adams has prior convictions for driving under the influence and gun possession , records show . He pleaded no contest to felony evading arrest in 2006 for fleeing an Emeryville police officer and had run from or physically resisted a California Highway Patrol officer and police in Albany and Berkeley , the San Francisco Chronicle reported . Adams once complained in court that young people raised in the city like himself never got opportunities , the paper also reported . Adams has been told about Christopher , said Holmgren . `` It does n't matter whether it 's your first day on the street as an officer or a veteran , to see a child doing something as innocent as taking a piano lesson and have this happen to him , it affects your soul , '' said Holmgren . Meanwhile , doctors delivered tragic news about Christopher 's future . `` He 's going to face years of rehabilitation , '' said Dr. James Betts , chief of surgery at Children 's Hospital Oakland . `` We are all hoping there will be some degree of recovery . We feel like the injury is permanent , and the paralysis is permanent . `` [ It will be ] a challenging life for this young boy . '' Christopher 's friends and fellow music lovers plan to help him . Harmony Road Music School will hold a benefit concert for the Rodriguez family February 10 at 2 p.m. at Chapel of the Chimes , a place of worship near the school . `` The family is going to have to , essentially , make a home for a disabled child now , '' said school owner Jim Callahan . `` They 'll have to change the stairs in their home , make all sorts of expensive adjustments . '' Callahan met with instructors at Harmony Road Monday . They are talking about the incident with the students old enough to understand what happened . Classes have not stopped . `` Music has a healing quality all its own , '' said Callahan . `` We will not be terrorized by this . '' E-mail to a friend . CNN 's Dan Simon and Ashley Fantz contributed to this report .
Christopher Rodriguez , 10 , was hit by a bullet during his piano lesson last week . Police : Suspect allegedly robbing a gas station near music school . The boy , who loves classical music , will likely be paralyzed for life , his doctors say . Rodriguez 's father : `` I feel like half his life was taken from him ''