Buzz
In today’s unpredictable world, foreseeing future events—whether years, months, days, or even moments away—is incredibly challenging. Without knowing what lies ahead, preparing for the unknown becomes nearly impossible. Yet, for those facing dangerous circumstances, readiness for the worst often means treating it as just another ordinary day.
You follow your typical morning routine. You have breakfast, unless that’s not part of your habit. You get dressed, gather your things, bid farewell to anyone at home, and head out. Later, as you return home after a long day, someone suddenly fires a gun, hitting you in the leg. Surprisingly, an item in your pocket halts the bullet. Curious about what that item could be? Here are ten everyday accessories that have stopped or redirected bullets in life-threatening situations.
10. Rescued by Apple
In today’s world, cell phones have become an essential part of daily life, whether for work, social media, or personal use. Their usefulness has been demonstrated time and again, particularly in unexpected situations like this one.
In 2015, a 24-year-old student at California State University, Fresno, was targeted in a mugging right outside his apartment door. The incident occurred around 11:00 PM on a Monday night when an unknown attacker approached him from behind.
The assailant brandished a handgun and tried to steal the student’s laptop bag. After a brief struggle, the gunman fired a shot, striking the student’s leg. Fortunately, the bullet was stopped by the student’s iPhone, which was in his pocket at the time.
Although the student lost his laptop bag and its contents, he escaped without any injuries, all thanks to Apple.
9. The Laptop That Deflected a Bullet
Laptops are indispensable for business professionals on the go. They also double as a versatile entertainment hub, offering the same capabilities as a desktop. From gaming and web browsing to streaming, they do it all. However, Steve Frappier’s experience with his laptop in January 2017 was anything but ordinary.
Frappier found himself in the midst of the Fort Lauderdale International Airport shooting. The gunman, Esteban Santiago, opened fire in Terminal 2’s baggage claim area, where Frappier happened to be that afternoon. Like the other victims, Frappier sought safety by lying on the ground during the chaos.
As bullets rained down, one struck Frappier’s back. Thankfully, he was wearing his backpack. The bullet penetrated the backpack’s fabric and lodged itself into the laptop stored inside one of its pockets. The bullet was later discovered in the backpack, a far better outcome than the alternative.
8. Always Carry Your Wallet
Money—something we all need and strive to protect. Whether it’s cash, credit cards, debit cards, or IDs, a wallet is an essential tool for carrying currency and identification. While it keeps your valuables secure, it might also save your life.
Brian Harris, a resident of Edgewood in Washington, DC, was enjoying a cup of coffee outside his home around 8:30 PM on November 1, 2015. Suddenly, he felt what seemed like a punch to his stomach. With no one around, the sensation was puzzling—unless he had somehow struck himself.
Moments later, he heard four or five gunshots that struck several vehicles nearby. Worried he might have been hit, Harris checked his body but found no wounds or blood. Wearing a hoodie, he inspected the pocket where he felt the impact.
Inside the pocket was his wallet, which held items like his work keycard. The keycard had stopped a stray bullet, proving once again why we should never leave home without our wallets.
7. The Hair Weave That Went Above and Beyond
For many, hair holds great significance, and for 18-year-old Chantal Hammontree, it became an unexpected lifesaver.
In July 2014, Hammontree was seated in a car in Chicago’s East Chatham neighborhood when gunfire erupted. Bullets pierced the rear window of the vehicle and headed straight for her head.
Gunshot wounds to the head are often deadly. Fortunately, Hammontree was wearing a weave, which likely played a crucial role in her survival. Her uncle, Randy Berry, stated, “[Doctors] believe the bullet entered but bounced out due to the weave in her hair.”
While NBC Chicago reported that doctors haven’t officially confirmed the weave’s role, it’s difficult to ignore its potential impact in minimizing injury. Hammontree was taken to the hospital but was expected to make a full recovery.
6. GoPro Hero
Video journalism is gaining global popularity as people venture into new territories. However, such exploration can sometimes be incredibly dangerous.
In 2017, Iraqi journalist Ammar Alwaely was filming with his crew when a sniper’s bullet was fired in his direction. The shooter appeared to be targeting the journalist specifically.
Alwaely’s GoPro, attached to his vest, became his unexpected protector. The bullet struck the GoPro directly, preventing it from causing fatal harm. While the crew was stunned, everyone escaped without serious injuries.
5. A Silver Medallion to the Rescue
Many objects descend from the sky, but it’s rare for one to strike you in the face. Richard Smeraldo, aged 74 at the time, survived a falling bullet in 2012, all thanks to a silver medallion he was wearing.
On the evening of July 4, Smeraldo and his family attended a fireworks display at Safety Harbor Spa and Marina in Florida. As the grand finale approached, Smeraldo tilted his head upward to get a better view. Moments later, he described feeling as though “a large rock had smashed into his nose.”
The “rock” turned out to be a falling bullet. It pierced the brim of his hat, struck his nose, passed through his nostril, hit his lip, and finally lodged in his chin. The bullet’s trajectory was halted by the silver medallion he wore, preventing further injury and potentially saving his life.
4. A Pocket Lighter That Fought Back
Halloween night attracts a diverse crowd, especially near New York City. For one Long Islander, the individuals he encountered were far more than just trick-or-treaters.
A 22-year-old man was fleeing from robbers on Halloween night when they opened fire. For most, this would be terrifying, even on Halloween. The man was struck in the right leg, where he happened to be carrying a lighter. After the initial shot, no other bullets hit him.
In fact, the bullet didn’t even penetrate his body. The lighter stopped the bullet, leaving only a minor bruise. Detective Lieutenant Raymond Cote of the Nassau County Police remarked, “For once, smoking proved beneficial, as we’re discussing a minor injury instead of something far more severe.”
3. Saw It Coming
Falling asleep with glasses on isn’t ideal, but for Alonza Bryant, it made all the difference. In 2013, her glasses saved her from a potentially life-threatening situation, proving that waking up with 20/20 vision can sometimes be a lifesaver.
Bryant, a 16-year-old girl, was asleep on her couch at home when gunfire erupted outside. She might have become a victim of the shooting, but her glasses stopped the bullet from causing a deadly injury.
Without the bridge of Bryant’s glasses, the bullet would have struck her head directly. The shots were fired from a car outside her home, and while the incident was suspected to be gang-related, Bryant’s family had no such connections. Fortunately, she survived and is alive today.
2. Dressed for Survival
Preparing for an ordinary day usually means being fully dressed before leaving the house. For one man in Philadelphia, being completely dressed turned out to be a lifesaver.
A store employee was utterly surprised when gunfire erupted from the street nearby. He, along with several others, swiftly sought refuge in the most secure spots available.
A lone cyclist fired shots outside the store. It remains unclear if the incident was a deliberate attack, but the employee was struck. Initially unaware, he noticed a tear in his shirt upon glancing down. Upon further inspection, he discovered the bullet embedded in his belt buckle. Miraculously, the sturdy material halted the bullet, leaving the worker entirely unscathed.
1. It’s All About the Wedding Ring
Owning a store can bring immense happiness, yet it can also be the scene of sudden, unfortunate incidents.
Donnie Register, a shop owner in Jackson, Mississippi, launched The Antique Market with his wife, Darlene, in 1996. A routine visit by two men interested in a coin collection in 2007 unexpectedly escalated into a robbery.
Upon Donnie's return with the requested coin collection, one of the men brandished a gun, demanding money. In the ensuing chaos, a shot rang out. Instinctively, Donnie raised his hand, and the bullet ricocheted off his wedding ring.
Darlene Register recounted, “The bullet pierced two of his fingers without breaking the bone.” She added, “A fragment of the bullet remains in his middle finger, while another piece is embedded in his neck's muscle tissue. Fortunately, it poses no life-threatening risk.”
