Mexican soccer player Alan Pulido is home safe after being kidnapped at gunpoint Sunday in his hometown, Ciudad Victoria, when a group of trucks cornered him as he left a party with his girlfriend. Polido told police he punched one of the kidnappers, took his gun, and shot the man before breaking through a window and escaping, according toProceso.
However, Tamaulipas Coordination Group's released a statement that a "joint operation of federal and state forces" rescued the soccer player from his kidnappers after Pulido was able to phone police and let them know about his whereabouts while his captors were distracted. State prosecutor, Ismael Quintanilla, told journalists that no shots were fired and Pulido only sustained a minor injury, according to BBC. Quintanilla also revealed that Pulido's family received a phone call on Sunday demanding a ransom.
"[I am] very well, thank God," Pulido told reporters during a news conference. Pulido's club team Olympiacos took to Twitter early Monday morning to report Pulido is "safe" and "healthy."
A 38-year-old man who confessed to belonging to a local criminal gang has been arrested for the kidnapping. Police are still searching for three other men they believe were also part of the kidnapping.
Tamaulipas Governor, Egidio Torre Cantu, visited Pulido upon his return and congratulated police on their successful mission.
