Man survives after been shot 21 times by police

A 23-year-old man is counting his luck today after he survived being shot 21 times by police. Armed officers were involved in a shoot-out with the 23-year old named as Angel Alvarez at a New York street party. It’s claimed that Alvarez shot Luis Soto, 21 after the pair became embroiled in an argument over a woman, and he then turned his gun on officers who were monitoring the Harlem street party, where he wounded two policemen and three bystanders fortunately not seriously.

He then shot by police in the ensuing gun battle along Lenox Avenue and 143rd Street, at 3am on Sunday, 50 shots were fired with 46 of them coming from police weapons and Alvarez was hit at least 21 times. Officer Michael Tedeschi hit in the chest by a stray bullet and suffered bruising to his chest however police said his life had been saved by his vest, the other officer injured only suffered grazing to his hand.

Police initially claimed that Alvarez killed Mr Soto dead before shooting at officers however tests have now proved that Mr Soto was killed by a bullet fired from a police gun, as well as the officer injured, three bystanders also suffered injury, witnesses said: ‘People were running everywhere, grabbing kids and tripping over each other.’

Angel Alvarez is currently in a critical condition in hospital but is expected to live, doctors treating him have said that the bullets fired by police officers had missed his vital organs but he was shot in the arms, legs, abdomen and jaw but is able to talk.

Forensic pathologist Dr Vincent DiMaio said: “Alvarez’s survival against a hail of bullets was unprecedented. I would say more than 20 gunshot wounds is a record, of course, the real issue is where you get shot. One bullet can kill you, but believe it or not, a body can survive a lot of bullet wounds.”

Speaking about the shooting and the dangers of illegal guns New York mayor Michael Bloomberg said:” How much longer are we as a nation going to wait before we get serious about stopping illegal guns from getting into the hands of people who mean to do harm to others?”

A statement from the Police stated that Alvarez had been arrested eight times before for violent offences, and New York police chief Ray Kelly supports his officers saying they had been justified in using deadly force.

Picture courtesy of wilhelmja

US News