Carjacking Victim Feels Lucky to Be Alive

A Hartford man thought he was giving a friend a ride, but was nearly killed instead when he became the victim of a carjacking.

"It was a setup. It was a complete setup," said the victim, who did not want his identity revealed and spoke exclusively to NBC Connecticut.

The victim said he was meeting Paula Brown, 25, on Martin Street in Hartford when her brother, Brian Perry, 23, of Meriden asked to speak with him.

The victim said he got out of the car and noticed Brown slide from the passenger seat to the driver seat. Then the fight for his life began.

"[Perry] pulls out a gun. He cocks the gun back, pulls the trigger, but it misfires," the victim said. "He cocks the gun back again and pulls the trigger again and misfires again, and when it happened the second time, that's when I was able to get away."

Police said Perry chased the victim, then both suspects took off in the victim's red car.

Soon after, authorities tried to pull the vehicle over and a chase ensued, which ended on Edwards Street.

Perry then fled and ran through Global Communications Academy and Quirk Middle School's parking lot, where he tripped and fell, dropping the weapon, police said.

Perry, a convicted felon with 11 previous Hartford arrests, faces several charges, including attempted murder.

Brown was taken into custody a short time later on several charges, including carjacking and larceny.

"I'm basically lucky to be alive right now," the victim said.

The victim said he has no idea why it happened, but he's counting his blessings that he and his dog, King, who was inside the car when it was allegedly carjacked, are safe.

The victim believes someone was looking out for them that day.

"I thank my sister, Shamonique Harvey. She passed away a couple years ago, and she was on my side. She was really my angel," the victim said.

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