This is way better than reality TV.
A Houston car salesman pulled off an epic escape after carjackers beat him, tied him up and put him in the trunk during a test drive.
After the southwest Houston criminals attempted to steal a brand-new, red Dodge Challenger via test drive, they soon learned that Jose Martinez, 22, is no car salesman to mess around with.
The carjacking on January 4 began just like any other budding sale. A potential customer walked in around 6 p.m. at Gillman Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram in Houston, Texas. The man showed Martinez an ID, then together, they took the $40,000 vehicle for a drive.
However, things started getting suspicious when the "customer" pulled into a dark road past West Bellfort when the test drive was only supposed to go from the dealership to the corner of U.S. 59 and Beltway 8, then around the block and back.
Martinez, sensing something was wrong, immediately asked the "customer" for the car's keys.
"He was acting weird. I knew something was up when he pulled over," Martinez told the Houston Chronicle.
Soon after, two men popped up from a four-door silver sedan behind the Dodge Challenger and attacked the surprised car salesman.
Martinez said the "customer" punched him in the face. The "customer" and the two other carjackers tied up Martinez using tape and his own belt, shoved him into the trunk of the Challenger then drove away.
"I asked them why they were doing it while I was in the trunk. They told me to stop asking questions," Martinez told KHOU. "They were taping me up and I said do you want money? What do you need? Let me go, you can have the car. They said 'No, you're coming with us.'"
Unfortunately for the carjackers, the quick-witted Houston car salesman who had been working at the dealership for 2½ years had his mobile phone with him. Not ready to go down without a fight, Martinez texted his general manager from the trunk, called 911 and then activated GPS via an app so that moments later, a friend learned exactly where he was.
We can't exactly figure out how Martinez was able to pull off all that while his hands were tied, but he did it, and all we're gonna say is "Great job!"
The kidnappers eventually had to stop the car a few miles later after hearing Martinez making a commotion in the trunk. Apparently, the smart car salesman feigned unconsciousness after popping the trunk via an emergency latch. When the criminals opened the trunk, Martinez quickly took the chance and bounded for escape while leaving his phone behind.
"I got out pretty quick. I got the stuff off really quick. They heard me moving around, stopped really fast, opened up the trunk. They hit me," he said.
This is when it gets really good.
The three men, who were "pretty fast," tried to chase Martinez. One of the men pulled a gun but then dropped it.
Martinez wasted no time. He picked up the firearm and started shooting the carjackers, according to NBC News. One bullet hit one of the men.
He tried to fire again, but "there was only one fricking bullet. I was mad about it," a furious Martinez said.
Of course the men bolted, but not without trying to run down the Houston car salesman. The stolen car was later found abandoned. The criminals' whereabouts are still unknown. Unfortunately, Martinez couldn't remember what they looked like.
After this harrowing incident, one would think that Jose should rest, but no, he said he wants to go back to work as soon as possible.
"Oh yeah, I'm not going to let them stop me from working," he said.
This man sure is one badass car dealer.
A news report of the harrowing incident can be seen below.
Check out other photos and reports of the brave car salesman's epic escape.