Avondale Az- A man was shot by a 19-year old following a dispute on Wednesday afternoon the police said according to 12news. The man who was shot is in critical but stable condition.
Avondale police received a 911 call regarding a shooting near Litchfield and buckeye road. One 911 call was from 19 year old Anthony Hurtado. Anthony told police he shot someone in self defense. When police arrived they placed Hurtado in custody without any incident.
On the quaint Elm Lane, two young souls found their playground amidst what the police report described as a “heap of discarded items or a toy motorized car.” Emerging from his dwelling on the same lane, Hurtado reportedly advised the youngsters to refrain from creating disorder.
In the heat of the afternoon, two young boys found themselves in a verbal altercation with a man named Hurtado. The police report suggests that Hurtado retaliated, not with fists, but with a harmless piece of cardboard. Stung by the encounter, the boys retreated, only to return with two adult companions.
The quartet approached Hurtado’s residence, their shadows stretching long on the sun-baked pavement. One of the men rapped on the door with a sense of urgency, his voice echoing in the quiet street, “A grown man has wronged my son, and I demand an explanation.”
A tense conversation ensued between Hurtado and the group. The stepfather of one of the boys, his voice thick with anger, warned Hurtado against laying a hand on a child. In the midst of the heated exchange, one of the men lunged at Hurtado, but his aim was off, and he stumbled, falling onto the rocky terrain.
Hurtado, now out of sight of the camera, issued a chilling warning, his voice carrying the weight of a promise, “I’ll shoot you, back up.” His words sent the group retreating, their steps echoing ominously on the empty street.
The police report recounts Hurtado’s countdown, “Three seconds, three seconds,” his voice steady despite the escalating tension. The silence that followed was shattered by the sound of gunshots, and one of the men crumpled to the ground.
The camera then captured Hurtado, arms outstretched, a firearm in his grip, pointing towards the fallen man on the street. His voice, once threatening, now held a note of regret, “I told you, I told you to back up.”
Hurtado’s remorse was palpable as he repeated his apologies, “I’m sorry, man, I’m so sorry. I pray to God you don’t die.” Even as he dialed the police, his apologies continued to echo in the quiet street, a stark contrast to the violence that had just unfolded.
In a swift reaction, the second man dashed to his vehicle, retrieving a firearm. However, he held it at his side, not raising it in aggression. The man who had been shot managed to rise, staggering towards the car before being rushed to the hospital, as per the police report.
Miraculously, the second man and the two children escaped the incident unscathed. The first man, however, wasn’t as fortunate. He had been hit by at least three, possibly four, bullets and was now in the hospital, a breathing tube aiding his fight for life. His condition was critical, yet stable.
Meanwhile, Hurtado found himself on the wrong side of the law, facing serious charges. These included attempted second-degree murder, three counts of aggravated assault, and one count of disorderly conduct involving weapons.