Tarpon Teen a Hero in Walton Ave. Shooting

A brave teen is being called a hero after he was shot while trying to protect himself and a friend during a dangerous encounter.

Saturday night, Brad Perez, 19, and a friend were walking along South Walton Avenue in Tarpon Springs. The pair had just left a local convenience store when a man waved them over to a dimly lit area, WTSP 10 News reports. The man had a gun and attempted to rob the pair. Perez tried to grab the gun and was shot during the struggle, according to Tarpon Springs Police.

In an interview with WTSP, Perez said, "It felt like it wasn't real. I thought it was a fake gun. Then, I felt the burn of the gunpowder and smelled it. I felt the burn later on."

According to WTSP, the single gunshot went in and out the left side of Perez's chest. 

Perez was airlifted to Bayfront Medical Center, where he remained for the night and was released on Sunday.

Watch the full video report on WTSP.

Those with any information related to the shooting are asked to call the Tarpon Springs Police Department at (727)-938-2840.