Police: Pacemaker saved shooting victim’s life

By ROBERT NAPPER - rnapper@bradenton.com

What is ReadPlease?

Email Story

Printer Friendly

Reprint | License

Text Size:

tool goes here

BRADENTON — A man shot in the chest in a robbery Thursday night is expected to survive, and Bradenton police say a pacemaker took the brunt of a bullet, possibly saving the victim’s life.

Police say the 61-year-old man was sitting outside his home in the 800 block of 12th Street East when two men who attacked him for his wallet.

One of the men opened fire on the victim during the robbery and made off with his wallet, according to Bradenton police. One of the robbers had on a mask. Both men fled after the shooting, one northwest on foot, and the other in a what witnesses said may have been white Saturn south on 12th Street.

800 12th St. E, Bradenton, Fla.

Man, 61, shot in Bradenton robbery

The victim was airlifted to an area hospital and is in stable condition, according to hospital officials.

“We are told he had a pacemaker and the bullet hit it, probably saving his life,” said Bradenton Police Lt. John Affolter.

Disclaimer: Story comments are intended to provide a place for constructive dialog about issues and events in our community. Your input is encouraged and can make a positive difference. To achieve this, no obscenity, personal attacks, or racial slurs are tolerated. Users brought to our attention for violating our terms of use will be blocked from commenting permanently and without notice. Please help keep the comments on topic by flagging objectionable material and remember that children and young adults may be reading your comments. With freedom of speech comes the responsibility to be respectful of others.