"Please help me. Please help me. I have a family. I don't want to die," said Rafael Muniz.

The Graniteville resident says he'll never forget those words uttered by a police officer held at gunpoint.

He says he was just down the hall when the incident happened at Richmond University Medical Center Sunday morning.

Police say Dante Martin, 36, was being treated at the hospital after he was arrested on weapons charges.

Cops say Martin punched the officer who was guarding him and then went for the gun that was inside her holster.

"He was straddling her. He was mounted on top of her. She was face down on the floor with her head to the side," he said.

Muniz says he put his hand on Martin and convinced him to take his hand off the trigger.

"He is not saying one word . I am telling him please brother you do not have to do this," he said.

Muniz says Martin complied. He now faces several charges including attempted murder, assault and criminal possession of a weapon.

Muniz was in the hospital recovering from an hand infection. He was released Monday.

He says he has worked as a stage hand at music concerts for more than 20 years and he goes back to work on Wednesday.

"I have come across so many different personalities. I think I can sort of relate to anyone," he said.

And Muniz says if faced with the situation again, he'd so exactly the same thing.