The tragic event occurred last year when an unprovoked shooting rampage brutally interrupted a seemingly routine celebration. During the event, Mendez was shot in the head by the suspect, Jason Hunt, but miraculously managed to halt the massacre by reaching for his concealed weapon and firing at Hunt.
Mendez expressed his disbelief at the ordeal, stating, "It's still something that's unreal...you always see it on the news that this happened, that happened … but you never think it's going to happen to you."
As recounted by Mendez, the details of the harrowing incident reveal a typically idyllic community gathering turned nightmare. At the time, Mendez was attending a Fourth of July party in Surprise, Arizona, a tranquil town beside one of Arizona's largest retirement communities, Sun City West. Among the approximately 30 attendees, which included young children, were Mendez's two daughters and his wife, who was seven months pregnant.
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Mendez narrated how Jason Hunt, a neighbor of the party's host, mingled with the crowd despite not having close relationships with anyone there. The Arizona Republic reported last year that the police later identified Hunt as the lone perpetrator of the unprovoked attack.
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The scene unfolded in the kitchen, where Hunt and other party-goers were obtaining food. Suddenly, Hunt pulled out a gun and unleashed a barrage of bullets on the unsuspecting crowd, instigating a frantic scramble for safety.
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Amid the chaos, Mendez was shot in the head. His wife, terrified by the sight of his blood-soaked face, assumed he was deceased. She swiftly gathered their two daughters and other children, barricading them within the house. Meanwhile, two other women attempted to subdue Hunt while they pleaded for Mendez's aid, knowing he was a concealed-carry permit holder.
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"I heard my name. And I was able to get up," Mendez recalled, crediting his survival to divine intervention, adrenaline, and the primal urge to protect his family. Hunt was eventually neutralized, and the police later praised Mendez for "acting in self-defense and defense of other innocent parties."
The incident, however, left Mendez severely wounded, with a lost left eye, a fractured jaw, a torn eardrum, and an impaired sense of smell. Despite these setbacks, Mendez has been recovering since the incident.
Following his near-death experience, Mendez has shifted his focus to leveraging his ordeal to inspire others to arm themselves with self-defense knowledge and embrace their Second Amendment rights. He recently became an NRA (National Rifle Association) instructor and is preparing to impart his gun safety knowledge to his friends and family.
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"The reason why I became an instructor was just to have the knowledge to train my family, train my friends, and especially, you know, since I am that living proof that firearms or a gun in the hands of law-abiding citizens save lives," Mendez explained to Fox News Digital.
According to the NRA's website, certification as an NRA instructor involves completing an introductory course in the discipline they wish to teach, demonstrating a solid background in firearm safety and shooting skills, and receiving the endorsement of the NRA training counselor who led the classes, among other prerequisites.
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Mendez's life-altering ordeal has already begun to resonate with people. He revealed that many had contacted him online, expressing their interest in learning gun safety and shooting skills from someone who has endured such a harrowing ordeal.
Mendez criticized the media's bias, stating that the narrative often favors mass shootings rather than focusing on incidents where a legal gun owner has thwarted such atrocities. He said, "You don't really hear about, 'Hey, there was a shooting, but a guy with a CCW or a father or a husband was able to protect his family or took out his own firearm.' And this is why CCWs or the Second Amendment does work. So, you don't really hear about those stories at all. I believe it's not in the agenda."
Wayne LaPierre, CEO and Executive Vice President of the NRA expressed his admiration for Mendez's "bravery and tenacity," saying he is "privileged to call him my friend, and the NRA is truly honored to have him in our ranks as a certified instructor."
LaPierre told Fox News Digital, "Raul Mendez is the very definition of courage, resilience and selflessness. His journey from surviving a horrific incident to recovery, and now becoming an NRA-certified instructor so he can help empower more good people, truly shows the world the golden heart of this proud NRA member."
LaPierre added, "The horror that Raul survived underscores that self-defense is more than a right – it's a matter of life and death. Raul serves as a potent reminder of the daily reliance millions of law-abiding Americans have on their guns to protect themselves and others. This is why the NRA fights for self-defense laws."
As the Fourth of July nears, Mendez and his family plan a quiet celebration, including a welcome addition: a baby girl who miraculously survived the mass shooting while still in the womb. "It'll be a day where … we continue to celebrate our freedom," Mendez expressed. Alongside the nation's birthday, the family will celebrate his wife's birthday and the lives that survived the terrifying incident last year. He stated, "Celebrate my life, my family's life, that we were able to push through and survive."
This story is a stark reminder of the potential threats ordinary citizens can face and the resilience and heroism that can arise in the face of such adversity. As Mendez continues to heal and lend his experiences to advocate for self-defense rights and education, his journey resonates with countless Americans. It is a testament to survival, determination, and the power of an individual's will to protect and nurture their family and community.
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