PORTLAND, OR (KPTV) -
It was a close call for a Portland man who was nearly hit by gunfire while he was at a MAX stop.
Police said it happened at the MAX platform on Southeast Foster Road around 9:20 p.m. Thursday.
Officers were called to the scene after receiving reports of shots fired.
Josh Smith said he was sitting up on a rail at the MAX stop and was wearing headphones, listening to his music.
While he was hanging out at the stop, he said a man walked up to him and asked him what he was listening to.
Smith said he tried to ignore the man and said he didn't know what he was listening to.
That's when, according to Smith, the man pulled out a gun and told him he should let him listen to it.
Smith said he wasn't going to give in and let the guy take his headphones so he tried to talk the gunman down.
"I had my hands up and I walked towards him. I was inching towards him as close as I could to him so I could get in arms reach. As soon as I was within arm's reach I was reasoning with him and he was jumping and bouncing all around, shooting his gun off," Smith said.
That's when Smith saw the gunman shoot down in to the ground and up into the air to try and scare him.
Despite his small size and his disability, Smith wasn't budging. He said that he knew his six years of jiu-jitsu would pay off.
Smith said he eventually was able to grab for the weapon and was able to push it away and down from the man.
Smith was able to hold the man in a power grip, but the gunman was able to get away before police arrived.
Smith did suffer a small scratch to his elbow but police believe the gunman may have been hurt or possibly even shot himself during the struggle.
Smith described that man as a white man in his mid 20s.
Police said he was wearing a T-shirt and shorts and took off riding a black BMX bike.
Anyone with information on this case should call Portland police.
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