Boxing Champion Hector Camacho on Life Support After Shot in Face

Puerto Rican professional boxer Hector Camacho is in critical condition after he was shot in the face by two persons riding an SUV on Tuesday, November 20. He was almost considered brain dead with very poor prognosis before doctors found out on Wednesday that he still had irregular and intermittent brain activity. 

That Tuesday, Hector was sitting with his lifelong friend, Alberto Yamil Mojica, in a Ford Mustang parked outside a bar on Highway 167 in Bayamon, a suburban town west of San Juan capital, when suddenly two assailants shot them. Alberto died instantly, while Hector was critical.

The bullet hit his jaw and passed through his head. It fractured two vertebrae and lodged in his right shoulder. The shooters have not been apprehended and the motive of the assassination is still under investigation.

He was rushed to Centro Medico, a San Juan trauma center. His condition was deteriorated when he suffered a heart attack. However, Rio Piedras Medical Center director, Dr. Ernesto Torres, confirmed that heartbeat had been back.

He said, "[Hector] went into cardiac arrest. The doctors were able to get his heart started again with the medicine and we are maintaining his blood pressure and pulse stable medically right now to see whether during this morning, afternoon or evening we see a positive change." 

The representative added, "This is the toughest fight in the life of Macho Camacho." A medic also shared an opinion, "His recovery would be a miracle. Medically, there is nothing we can do."

According to Dr. Ernesto, Hector's mother Maria Matias accompanied her son for 20 minutes and might return. "His mother came and she is devastated. She knows the prognosis is not at all favorable," he revealed.

"We can't declare him brain dead," Dr. Ernesto stated. "We're going to ask the people of Puerto Rico to keep praying." The medical center director said that doctors would conduct more medical tests early Thursday, November 22 but noted that the prognosis was still very poor. 

"The changes have been more negative than positive," the doctor added. According to him, Hector didn't have enough blood flowing on his brain. The Latino boxer is now on life support.

The former champion in the lightweight and junior lightweight division has been addicted to alcohol and drugs during his career. It seemed that his childhood friend Alberto also had a drugs issue. According to police representative Alex Diaz, some officers found cocaine inside nine small bags in Alberto's pocket. Additionally, ten more bags were found to have been opened inside the car.