Former Navy diver and San Diego County law enforcement veteran Ali Perez survived an encounter that should have ended his life. What began as an operation to arrest a suspected child predator turned into a close-range gunfight after Ali entered a darkened apartment and was met by a rifle.

Watch the episode here: https://youtu.be/8MHOYdFxiIw

Ali describes being shot multiple times, suffering catastrophic injuries, becoming trapped inside the apartment with the gunman, continuing to fight while severely wounded, running out of ammunition, and eventually believing he was about to die.

Then the story takes a turn that Ali says changed the rest of his life.

This conversation goes far beyond that single day.

Ali takes us inside Navy dive school, including the brutal underwater training and what happens to the human mind nearly 200 feet beneath the surface. He recounts responding to a school shooting and helping apprehend the teenage shooter, the psychological aftermath of seeing children killed, his thoughts on law enforcement response during active-shooter incidents, and the disturbing reality of investigating physical and sexual crimes against children.

He also walks us through the aftermath of his own shooting: massive blood loss, emergency surgery, his family being warned that he likely would not survive, years of recovery, 43 surgeries, faith, forgiveness and rebuilding a life after everything changes in seconds.

Whether you share Ali's beliefs or question what he experienced, this is a conversation about what happens when a man reaches the absolute edge of life and has to decide what comes next.

Watch Episode 127 now on YouTube, or listen everywhere you get your podcasts.

If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide or experiencing a mental health crisis, help is available. In the United States, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7. If there is an immediate danger or medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.

You do not have to face a crisis alone.

U.S. Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988

Immediate emergency: Call 911

Subscribe to The Wild Chaos Podcast for extraordinary people, uncomfortable conversations and stories most people never get the opportunity to hear.

🔔𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬. https://www.youtube.com/@wildchaospod/?sub_confirmation=1

🔗 Stay Connected With Us.

Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/TheWildChaosPodcast

Instagram (The Wild Chaos Podcast): https://www.instagram.com/wildchaospodcast/

Instagram (Bam): https://www.instagram.com/bambam0069/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wildchaospodcast

Website: https://wildchaosshow.com/

📩 For business inquiries: bam@sempersocial.com