Brush With Death Tightens a Bond

So tight is the bond between the 18-year-LAPD veteran and the rookie that they virtually had to be pried apart.

"We were partners. We are now brothers for life," said Porras, 48. "When I saw him today it lifted my spirits greatly. I was so happy to see him doing better and he was happy to see me. We thanked God we survived."

The partners had been patrolling the Hollenbeck Division together for four months, Porras using his years on the streets of Boyle Heights and the Eastside to teach the rhythm and cadence of patrol work to Tuck, 25, who was so new to the force that he was still in the probationary period.

Saturday night, they noticed a black Honda with a broken light in the Montecito Heights area.

Porras, who was behind the wheel, turned on the red lights, but the Honda didn't stop.

A few blocks later, the driver appeared to heed, pulling off Flora Avenue onto Sierra Street.

But before Porras could even put the cruiser in park, a man jumped out of the Honda with an AK-47 rifle and sprayed the partners with gunfire.

Porras said Monday that he knew they were in trouble when he saw the massive magazine attached to the weapon.

"I know there's a banana clip on the weapon," he said. "All we could do was duck."

Tuck was still calling in the pair's location when he was hit with a high velocity round through the cruiser's front window, nearly severing his wrist.

The gunman then ran down the passenger's side of the cruiser, firing repeatedly.

The gunfire shattered the windows and tore holes in the car's hood, door and frame.

From the passenger's seat, Tuck managed to return fire using his good hand.

Porras jumped out of the vehicle, hitting his knee hard on the ground. He used the car as a barrier between him and the gunman, who continued to fire.

He could not see the assailant but could hear his footsteps between bursts of fire.

Suddenly, the police cruiser -- which was still in neutral -- lurched forward, giving the gunman a clear shot at Porras.

"That's when I engaged him," the officer said. "He leveled his weapon toward me, I began shooting. I missed with the first few, then I hit him in the leg and knocked him down."

Tuck kept firing as well but was hit twice more, once in the right elbow and once in the back.