The 1998 Cúa hostage crisis occurred on April 5, 1998, in Cúa, Venezuela, when 18-year-old Hector Duarte attempted to rob a bakery with a revolver. After his robbery went wrong he took a woman hostage and threatened to kill her. He then engaged police in a stand-off that lasted for seven hours. The stand-off eventually ended when a police marksman shot Duarte in the head, killing him and saving the hostage. His graphic death was caught on camera. Crisis The incident occurred on April 5, 1998, when 18-year-old Hector Duarte Bahamonte attempted to rob a bakery with a revolver in Cúa, approximately 50km south of Caracas, the capital city of Venezuela. Police foiled Duarte's efforts to rob the bakery and shot him in the arm, which resulted in Duarte taking hostages. He went into a nearby residential block and took 44-year-old Nancy López and her family hostage. Duarte shot two of his hostages, one of whom was a 9-year-old boy, and left them both bleeding on the ninth floor. He then emerged outside the building with López. He placed his revolver to her temple and threatened to kill her unless he received a vehicle that he could use for his escape. Duarte planned on fleeing to Caracas. Police cordoned off the neighborhood and began attempts to reason with Duarte. Police chief Ivan Simonovis took charge of the rescue operation to save López. Seven hours passed, with police making desperate attempts to plead with Duarte and attempting to convince him to surrender peacefully. During the stand-off, Duarte spoke to his mother on a police cell phone. Despite the threat on her life, López reportedly remained fairly calm throughout the ordeal. Duarte repeatedly rejected police efforts to resolve the situation peacefully. Duarte reportedly said "Kill me and I will kill the woman. Send me to the cemetery once and for all. Bring two coffins". A police psychologist negotiated with Duarte from a nearby van, with police sharpshooters hiding behind the vehicle. Eventually, a police marksman fired a single shot with a sniper rifle at Duarte's face and shot him through the left eye. Duarte was killed instantly. López then broke free with only minor injuries. She remained very shocked and stunned but alive. Aftermath Duarte was taken to an ambulance but was dead on scene. López escaped with only minor injuries and the other two hostages who had been shot both survived