The armored car was moving fast through the city. In the backseat, the businessman thought about the meeting he would have later with other executives of his company. Up ahead, his driver and his bodyguard were chatting animatedly, but in low voices so as not to disturb the businessman. It was a cold morning and it was not very early; the employer had no obligation to arrive at work before the employees of his company.

Armored car traveling through the streets of a city

The car stopped at a red traffic light on a not-very-busy street. Suddenly, a truck blocked their way in front and a large car did the same in the back. Very startled, the driver accelerated to try to move forward and after a few seconds of struggle between his car and the truck, the car turned off. Simultaneously a hail of bullets began to hit the front of the car, but the bulletproof windows did their job.

Armored car after being shot multiple times

Failing to achieve his goal, one of the attackers, with a huge 20-pound sledge hammer, began hitting the driver’s window terribly, aiming preferably at the top of it. Desperate, the driver tried to start the car again but, unbelievably, was unable to do so. Inside the car, the three occupants felt as if every blow the window received was hitting them in the head.

20 pounds sledge hammer

The bodyguard pulled out his 45-caliber pistol and began waving it around and showing it menacingly at the kidnappers, but it looked dwarfed by the large, long-barreled machine gun the attackers had.

Long barrel machine gun

Some neighbors, horrified, watched the scene from afar and others, fewer, began to call the police. After about a minute and a half, the window began to give way. Finally, a space was opened, through which the bodyguard was able to put the barrel of his gun and shoot, seriously injuring one of the kidnappers. But almost immediately the one with the machine gun also took advantage of that gap to get into firing position. Dozens of bullets riddled the businessman’s companions, killing them on the spot. It is not difficult to imagine the degree of shock in which the businessman was. The kidnapper then turned his gun to point it directly at the businessman. This one, trembling from head to toe and with his heart about to burst, barely managed to shout: “don’t kill me.” In response he received an order given in an extraordinarily imperative tone: “Open the door, damn it.” Lost all hope and totally despondent, the businessman opened the car door and gave himself up to his captors.

Note: Unfortunately, this was a real life case. The hostage was the Peruvian television businessman Héctor Delgado Parker. After a few months, and after the kidnappers’ demands were met, the businessman was released. Unfortunately, a few years later he passed away. The shock had been too strong.
On the other hand, and as incredible as it may seem, the bodyguard did not die; the terrorists left him for dead. The driver did die.
Later investigations indicated that this armored car could drag the truck in front of it and escape but, surely because of his nervousness, the driver could not start it again.

The Delgado Parker brothers: from left to right:
Genaro, Manuel and Hector


REFERENCES: Caretas magazine, internet.