Man tries to shoot Argentina VP, handgun misfires: Watch video

A man tried to kill Argentina's powerful vice president Cristina Fernández outside her home, but luckily the handgun misfired.

A video of the incident shows Fernández exiting her vehicle surrounded by supporters when a man shows a pistol right to her face and pulls the trigger. The VP instinctively ducks, clearly she is not hit, there is a second of shock and confusion all around as people try to figure out what is happening, and then people rush to overpower the gunman

Officials told news agencies that the man pointed the pistol at her and pulled the trigger, but it did not discharge. Though the gun was loaded with five bullets, not one of them fired when the trigger was pulled.


Fernández did not suffer any injury. The man was quickly overpowered by her security officers in the incident Thursday night, officials said.

Officials identified the alleged gunman as Fernando André Sabag Montiel, a Brazilian citizen. He did not have a criminal record, and the weapon he had was reportedly a .32-caliber Bersa.

Witnesses, who were near the vice president when the incident occurred, said they heard the sound of the trigger being pulled but did not realise it was an assassination attempt.

Fernández is facing a trial for alleged acts of corruption during her 2007-2015 presidency — charges that she vehemently denies.

When Fernández leaves her apartment every day at around noon, AP reported, she greets supporters and signs autographs before getting in her vehicle to go to the Senate. She repeats the same routine every evening.