Gold Teeth Deflect Bullet, Save a Life

*** Gold Teeth Deflect Bullet, Save a Life *** Video

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http://www.aolnews.com/2011/02/26/go...ec3_lnk3|46812


Gold is the new pearly white.

These glittering grills could become even more popular after Walter Davis, a New Orleans man allegedly shot in the mouth by his younger brother, was saved when the dental accessory stopped the bullet.

Davis escaped with only minor gum damage and a cut upper lip because of his gold front teeth, the Uptown Messenger reported.

The metallic chompers likely deflected the .22 caliber bullet his brother allegedly fired into his face from a Smith and Wesson revolver, giving new meaning to the expression good as gold.

The brothers got into an argument on Feb. 7 after Walter and his girlfriend had reportedly smoked Waltdell's marijuana, which angered the younger brother. Police arrested Waltdell and charged him with aggravated battery, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and parole violation. 

The victim was sitting in a car with his girlfriend in the 3300 block of Second Street, smoking marijuna that belonged to his 20-year-old brother, Waltdell Davis, said Sgt. Sandra Contreras of the NOPD Sixth District persons-crime division. When Waltdell Davis came home, he got angry about the marijuana, and an argument ensued, Contreras said. In an attempt to defuse the argument, the victim went inside the house, but Waltdell Davis followed him in with a gun, Contreras said.

The two began to struggle, and the gun went off, hitting the victim in the mouth, Contreras said. He ran to a friend’s house for help, and the paramedics who treated him told investigators that the small-caliber bullet apparently bounced off the victim’s gold tooth, leaving only some gum damage from the impact and a cut to his upper lip from the ricochet, Contreras said.

The victim told police in the hospital that he had been shot by his brother, Contreras said. His mouth was filled with gauze from his medical treatment, however, and it was initially difficult to ascertain whether he was identifying Waltdell Davis or a second similarly-named brother, Waldell Davis, Contreras said. Investigators were able to subsequently confirm from other witnesses that Waltdell Davis was the shooter and that Waldell Davis was uninvolved in the incident, and Waltdell Davis was arrested Feb. 9 on charges of aggravated battery, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and parole violation.