Man shot cousin dead while testing bulletproof vest, police say
Technically Incorrect: In Florida, a man allegedly has a bulletproof vest and wonders if its still works. His cousin decides to test it out.
Technically Incorrect offers a slightly twisted take on the tech that's taken over our lives.
Bulletproof vests don't last forever.
At first, police in Tampa, Florida, were allegedly told Joaquin Mendez was shot by a random bullet on Saturday night.
As the Associated Press reports, it wasn't until a witness came forward that another story emerged.
The 23-year-old Mendez, police say, sat on a chair, put on a bulletproof vest and wondered whether it "still worked."
The witness reportedly told police that Mendez's cousin, Alexandro Garibaldi, 24, replied: "Let's see."
The result was that Mendez was shot in the chest and died from his injuries.
Tampa Police Department didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
Bulletproof vests have a shelf life.
The National Institute of Justice says that buyers should be guided by the manufacturer's warranty. But some vests might have suffered greater wear and tear.
Many vests have a warranty of five years.
In the Tampa case, the police report seen by the AP says that officers found a vest in the house where the shooting took place. It showed signs of having been shot into.
Garibaldi is being held on manslaughter charges. The Tampa Bay Times reports he's also being held on a charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm.