A victim of last weekend’s violent church stabbing in New Mexico narrowly escaped another knife attack while taking part in an upcoming reality show.
Gerald Madrid, a popular Albuquerque bail bondsman, was filming a scene with TV bounty hunter Duane “Dog” Chapman and his wife Beth several months ago when the trio was confronted by a blade-wielding fugitive.
“The guy had a knife on him and told [Gerald], ‘I was going to die by cop and make you guys come after me,’” Beth Chapman tells The Post.
“And when you did I was going to pull this knife on you.”
Madrid, a long-time friend of the criminal chasing couple, had given up bounty hunting for many years before agreeing to appear on the reality series “Dog and Beth: In The Hunt.”
On the show, the Chapmans travel from town to town acting as mentors for local bounty hunters and accompanying them on assignments.
The episode featuring Madrid and his family owned business airs Sunday night on CMT.
Madrid is in “serious condition” and is expected to remain at an Albuquerque hospital for the next five days, Dog says.
“The knife missed his spine by one inch.”
He was stabbed in the back five times during services at St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church on Sunday morning as his wife and family looked on.
Madrid reportedly lunged at suspect Lawrence Capener, 24, who was attempting to kill choir director Adam Alvarez.
“His son Christian tells us that his dad just instinctively leaped for him and tried to stop him. Put him in like a bear hug,” Dog says.
“He reached into his back and saw a bunch of blood and he got a little dizzy and thought this is it, ‘Where else should I die but right here at the altar of God.
“He should be commended for his courage and his bravery to leap in front of someone like that without any regard for his own safety.”
Four parishoners, including Madrid, suffered serious injuries in the attack. Many others rushed to the altar to help restrain the suspect.
“There are quite a few heroes in the pack over there,” Beth says.