A 78-year-old man fatally shot a gun-toting teenage carjacker in a shocking faceoff caught on video.
The retiree had just parked his SUV in front of his home in the county of La Matanza in Buenos Aires, Argentina, when he was ambushed by the teen and three suspects riding in a pickup truck.
The 15-year-old suspect was seen stepping out of truck and pointing a gun at driver, who had reportedly been robbed before.
The elderly man, who appeared to have his own gun close by, opened his door and quickly fired a shot that struck the teen.
A second suspect who had stepped out of the pickup truck turned and began to run away as the 78-year-old fired another shot at the first assailant
The elderly man then took aim at the fleeing suspects, squeezing off one more shot in their direction.
La Matanza homicide prosecutor Diego Rulli showed support for the elderly man's right to defend himself.
A police official told Clarín newspaper that the teen and his three accomplices may be part of an auto theft gang.
'It is being investigated whether they were following him,' the official said. 'Given the type of vehicle, I think it was random. They didn't have a plan. It's strange that they did it with a prop weapon.'
Argentine news outlet TN reported that the 78-year-old suffers from cardiac issues and was the victim of a previous robbery in which he was beaten.
A 15-year-old (right) was seen stepping out of a pickup truck in an attempt to carjack a 78-year-old man before he was shot and killed in Argentina
The 78-year-old opened fire at the teenager's accomplices as they fled in a pickup truck
The 15-year-old, identified by his first name, Gianluca, was killed while attempting to carjack a 78-year-old man in Villa Madero, a neighborhood in La Matanza, one of the 135 counties that make up the Argentine province of Buenos Aires
Following that incident, he began to carry a firearm and set up a surveillance system at his residence with five cameras.
It was later revealed that the teen had reportedly used a fake gun in the stickup.
Residents in the La Matanza neighborhood of Villa Madero, where the incident occurred, told La Nación newspaper that they have longed complained to police and local government officials of crime.
'The terrible story is that a man defended himself from something that could happen to me or anyone else. This place has become extremely unsafe,' one local said.
'It is a madness that is difficult to bear,' he added.
Another resident, who works as a ride-share app driver, said he was nearly shot the night before the deadly encounter.
'A car appeared in the wrong direction, three guys got out, apparently minors, and one of them shot [at] me, just out of nowhere. I was saved by the speed with which I put it in first gear and left at full speed,' the man said.
'I called the police station, 911, they called for two patrol cars, the same as nothing, everything is a disaster, it was never so bad, like now, 14- or 15-year-old kids who go out to kill anyone. Well now it was one of them's turn.'
