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Detroit Officer Wounded in Right Hand Learned to Shoot Lefty to Save Career

A man with mental illness, attempting suicide with a knife, turned the weapon on Sanchez.

May 5, 2022
Detroit Officer Wounded in Right Hand Learned to Shoot Lefty to Save Career

 

1 min to read


A year ago Detroit Police Officer Ricardo Sanchez was one of several officers that responded to a call on Detroit's east side. A man with mental illness, attempting suicide with a knife, then turned the weapon on Sanchez.  

Sanchez wasstabbed multiple times in the arm and thigh – then shot.  

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"Because of how close he was, about the only thing I could do was get my hands up and fight with him over the weapon," Sanchez told Fox2.  

A fellow officer was forced to shoot the man to stop the attack. In the process, firing a bullet into Sanchez’s right hand. Sanchez credits Officer McCullough with saving his life.

Sanchez worked hard to recover and return to police duty. He how learn to shoot with his left hand to do so.

In January he shot for qualification and scored 248.

Sanchez has now returned to duty.

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