Tampa Man Killed By Cousin After Mistakenly Believing Flak Jacket Was Bulletproof Vest
A former felon from Tampa, FL. is now facing manslaughter charges after “helping” his now-late relative test what they both thought was a bulletproof vest.
On Saturday evening (September 10), according to the Tampa Bay Times, 23-year-old Joaquin Mendez and his cousin, Alexandro Garibaldi, were in a garage attached to Mendez’s home when they came across what they believed to be the protective coat. As Joaquin curiously placed it on his body, he inquired loudly on whether or not it would actually protect him from being shot.
“Let’s see,” Garibaldi allegedly responded, before sitting in a chair, pulling out a gun and firing a bullet directly into Mendez’s chest.
After being rushed to a nearby hospital by emergency officials who were called to the scene, it was discovered that Mendez had not, in fact, been wearing a bulletproof vest. What he had uncovered inside of his home was actually a flak jacket, which is known to worn by military members as a way to protect their bodies from flying fragments of explosive weaponry, such as hand grenades or land minds. He would die from his injuries shortly thereafter.
During police questioning regarding the shooting, Garibaldi was said to have initially lied about the matter, claiming that he had heard the gunshot while inside the house and not physically near Mendez. A neighbor who lived nearby, however, was able to properly relay the act that led to the 23-year-old’s death, including Alexandro’s snarky response to his cousin’s hypothetical question.
Garibaldi was subsequently charged with manslaughter for his actions in Mendez’s death, and also given an additional charge of possessing a firearm as a felon. He is currently being held without bail in Hillsborough County Jail. The gun was not uncovered and it was not immediately known whom the flak jacket belonged to.
In a related story, two young teens from Michigan died last week after one of them accidentally shot the other before the turning the gun on himself.
As mentioned by the New York Daily News, the bodies of Marsavious Frazier and Daqarion Hunter, both 17, were found in a alley way near Kalamazoo last Monday, September 5. According to witnesses at the scene, Frazier was toying around with the weapon when it accidentally went off, instantly killing his best friend, Hunter. He then became “distraught,” before punishing himself by firing a bullet into his own head.
Playing w/ gun Marsavious Frazier fatally shoots best friend Daquarion Hunter (17)— after realization kills self https://t.co/7sT1nHpPQq
— Yukio Strachan (@boldandworthy) September 8, 2016
In a written statement regarding the murder-suicide, Captain Victor Ledbetter of the Kalamazoo warned children about the dangers of possessing illegal firearms and what can ultimately happen if one ended up in the wrong hands.
“This is a very unfortunate incident and we remind people to be mindful and serious about the proper and legal handling of firearms,” it reads. “The firearm in this incident was not stolen, but it was also not properly registered. This case continues to be investigated and more details will be released as we move forward in this investigation.”
It was believed, at first, that a police officer might have been to blame for Frazier and Hunter’s death, but a subsequent investigation uncovered that talk to be false. According to the latter teen’s Facebook page, Hunter was studying law enforcement at Kalamazoo Valley Community College and was an avid sports player, participating often in football and baseball.
Frazier’s stepmother, Alisa Ann Watkins-Monroe, took to her Facebook the next day to confirm the saddening news.
“Never thought I would have to say good bye to my favorite guy,” she expressed along with a childhood photo of Marsavious. “[However], our bond is a forever bond. He will always be my baby boy.”
Police have asked anyone with more information on the two teens’ deaths to contact Kalamazoo Public Safety.
[Photo by goce/iStock by Getty Images]
