Arizona police officer's belt stops a BULLET and saves his life after gun-wielding man opened fire on two cops

  • Tuscon Officer Nathan Stout reported to a domestic violence incident Friday
  • He located gun-wielding man Roy King, 51, who threatened his stepson by bringing out a handgun while they were at a local bar with family and friends
  • As Stout approached King, he shot the officer but the bullet hit his belt
  • The thick duty belt protected the officer from the blow, leaving him uninjured  
  • Police Chief Chris Magnus says the shot was 'Way, way, way too close a call'
  • King was arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for his attack at the bar 
  • He faces two additional counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for opening fire on the officers 

By Marlene Lenthang For Dailymail.com

Published: | Updated:

Roy King, 51, is accused of opening fire on two officers. One of the bullets aimed for Officer Nathan Stout was stopped by his duty belt, leaving him unharmed

Roy King, 51, is accused of opening fire on two officers. One of the bullets aimed for Officer Nathan Stout was stopped by his duty belt, leaving him unharmed

An Arizona officer was an inch from death when he was shot at while in the line of duty.  

But in a miraculous display of luck, the bullet aimed towards Officer Nathan Stout was blocked by his duty belt, leaving his body unharmed.

The close call took place just before 10pm on Friday when Stout and Officer Steven Clark responded to a domestic violence incident in Tuscon, according to the Tucson Police Department.

An adult male made the call saying he was the bar with his mother, stepfather, and friends when an argument arose and his stepfather Roy King, 51, pulled out a handgun and threatened him, then headed home.

Officers located King at his residence in Hermosa Hills, but when they approached the vehicle, King began to yell at the oncoming officers from the backyard. 

On Friday Officers Nathan Stout and Steven Clark responded to a domestic violence incident in Tuscon where King opened fire at them, hitting Stout in the belt with a bullet. Arizona Police Chief showing off the bullet marks on the belt, above

On Friday Officers Nathan Stout and Steven Clark responded to a domestic violence incident in Tuscon where King opened fire at them, hitting Stout in the belt with a bullet. Arizona Police Chief showing off the bullet marks on the belt, above

The bullet hit Stout's thick duty belt, used to hold a variety of police equipment, the bullet's damage pictured above

The bullet hit Stout's thick duty belt, used to hold a variety of police equipment, the bullet's damage pictured above

The bullet broke through part of the belt, breaking thread and leaving marks along the way

The bullet broke through part of the belt, breaking thread and leaving marks along the way

The whole belt pictured above holds Stout's gun, flashlight, and a variety of other tools

The whole belt pictured above holds Stout's gun, flashlight, and a variety of other tools

Officer Stout was shot at after he located King, who earlier in the day threatened his stepson with a gun at a local bar in front of the victim's mother and friends 

Officer Stout was shot at after he located King, who earlier in the day threatened his stepson with a gun at a local bar in front of the victim's mother and friends 

In his angry tirade he opened fire on the officers.  

One of rounds fired aimed for Stout landed in his duty belt made out of thick material and covered in police gear that blocked the bullet from hitting him.

King then retreated into the home as additional officers took over the scene and talked him out of the home.

He was booked into Pima County Jail on two counts of assault with a deadly weapon for his stint at the bar and two additional counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for opening fire on the officers, according to Fox. 

An investigation is going on into the incident. The police department's Office of Professional Standards is also investigating the officers' actions as a part of standard protocol.

Police arrived to King's Hermosa Hills home. After he opened fire he retreated into his home. Officers eventually convinced him to come out 

Police arrived to King's Hermosa Hills home. After he opened fire he retreated into his home. Officers eventually convinced him to come out 

Officers gathered at the scene to coax King out of his home Friday evening after he opened fire

Officers gathered at the scene to coax King out of his home Friday evening after he opened fire

'We could be investigating the death of an officer out here. These are extremely serious and sometimes...people don't know exactly what we have to respond to and this was one of those situations,' Sergeant Pete Dugan, the spokesman for the police department, said to Tuscon News Now. 

Arizona Police Chief Chris Magnus tweeted pictured of the belt, showing the place where the bullet struck it. 

'An officer's duty belt struck by gunfire last night as TPD officers responded to domestic violence incident at an east side residence. Officers returned fire. Suspect arrested. Thankfully, no injuries. Way, way, way too close a call. This takes "high risk" to a whole other level,' he tweeted Saturday. 

Officers Stout and Clark have both been employed with the police force for a year and a half.  

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