Unbelievable: Man gets shot 20 times by the police, manages to survive

A 23-year-old man has dodged death after being shot 21 times by police during a shoot-out at a New York street party. Four armed officers fired 46 bullets at Angel Alvarez after he allegedly shot a fellow partygoer - but they missed all his vital organs.

The suspect remains in a critical condition after being hit in his arms, legs, abdomen and jaw. Ôlvarez's sister told the New York Daily News he is already talking in hospital and is expected to survive. He allegedly shot Luis Soto, 21, after a row over a woman before turning his gun on officers who were monitoring the Harlem street party.

Two policemen and three bystanders were also wounded, though none seriously, in an ensuing gun battle along Lenox Avenue and 143rd Street, at 3am on Sunday. Tests later showed the bullet that killed Mr Soto was fired from a police gun. Police had initially claimed Alvarez killed Mr Soto dead before shooting at officers.

A forensic pathologist told the Daily News that Alvarez's survival against a hail of bullets was unprecedented. "I would say more than 20 gunshot wounds is a record," Dr Vincent DiMaio said.

"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."


/Sky News/