A man critically injured in a Washington, D.C., carjacking is recovering in hospital after bravely acting as a human shield for his 21-year-old girlfriend.
The couple was sitting in their car in Northwest D.C. just after 8 p.m. Monday when a masked figure approached them and demanded they hand over their car, FOX 5 reported.
As the couple tried to flee in their car, the suspect opened fire, hitting each of them five times, the report said.
Photo of DC Police Department law enforcement vehicles. (Celal Gunes/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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The woman’s family told FOX 5 that her boyfriend “protected her with his body and took the brunt of the bullet,” puncturing her lung.
The two men were able to escape from the armed suspect, but then collided about 400 meters down the road.
A good Samaritan called the family to let them know what had happened.


Washington, DC continues to face an increase in violent crime. (Anadolu Agency)


The D.C. man and woman were each shot five times, according to their families. (St. Petersburg)
“At first, we thought this couldn’t happen,” a family member told FOX 5. You can walk out your front door with peace of mind and not have to worry about someone taking your property or your life. ”
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The woman underwent surgery, but will likely require additional procedures, the report said.
D.C. police had not released a suspect as of Wednesday night, FOX 5 reported.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the station for comment.
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FOX 5’s Homa Bash contributed to this article.