A Mexican sports journalist was carjacked at gunpoint while on live television on Tuesday.
Fernando Vargas was doing an interview live on “Bla, bla, bla deportivo” on Mexican sports station Activo Deportes from his car that was parked at a gas station when a man with a gun abruptly opened the driver’s side door, Awful Announcing reported.
Vargas, a journalist and the communications director of Mexico’s National Professional Basketball League, was shocked by the events, though he remained calm during the ordeal.
The carjacking took place in the Mexican state of Morelos, which is just south of Mexico City.
The broadcast picked up the robber chambering a round in the weapon and then demanding Vargas hand over his items.
“The key, quick. Key, phones and wallets, quick,” the man told Vargas in Spanish.
Host Ed Martínez looked on in shock as the scene played out. Vargas grabbed several items — including his phone — and then stepped out of the car.
It wasn’t clear if the carjacker was aware that his victim was on live TV and streaming during the entire incident.
Vargas could be seen getting out of the car before the stream went dark, though voices could still be heard and the sports journalist could be heard telling the robber to “Calm down, calm down.”’
Vargas escaped the ordeal without any injuries, and Martinez took to Instagram to inform viewers of the journalist’s status.
“Thankfully, he’s safe, but very scared,” Martinez wrote. “If anyone recognizes the guy in the video, please help us and report him to the authorities. This happened in Morelos.”
The thief reportedly made off with Vargas’ wallet and phone, along with the car and other personal belongings.
The Sun reported that no arrests had been made.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
