According to officers with the Tampa Police Department, a 23-year-old man was shot and killed on Sept. 10 after he tried on a flak jacket. The man reportedly asked out loud whether the flak jacket was bulletproof. This allegedly led his 24-year-old cousin to shoot him in the chest.
Officers reported that they were called out on a report of a shooting at around 10 p.m. on Sept. 10. Upon arrival, they found the 23-year-old man lying on the ground with a gunshot wound. Inside of the home, law enforcement officers found the flak jacket and some blood.
The 24-year-old man told law enforcement authorities that he heard a shot and then found his cousin lying on the ground outside. However, a witness reportedly told officers that the 23-year-old man was shot by his cousin after asking about whether or not the vest was bulletproof. His cousin allegedly then said, “let’s see,” before firing the single fatal shot. The 23-year-old man died from his wounds at the hospital. His cousin has been charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and manslaughter. He was taken into custody at the Hillsborough County Jail.
Felony charges are serious and may lead to consequences such as hefty fines and long prison sentences. People who are charged with felony offenses might want to consult with a criminal defense lawyer. An attorney may be able to negotiate a plea to a lesser offense or misdemeanor. If there are evidentiary problems, the attorney may file motions to suppress the evidence, possibly leading to a dismissal of the charges.
Source: Tampa Patch, “Man killed trying on flak jacket in Tampa,” Sherri Lonon, Sept. 12, 2016.
