A 26-year old South Carolina man died Wednesday after telling his friend to shoot him while he was wearing a bulletproof vest.
According to police, Blake Wardell told 18-year old Taylor Ann Kelly to shoot him in the vest, but she missed the Kevlar and shot him in the chest. He bled to death at the scene.
Investigators say eight to ten people were at a home on Broadmouth Church Road in Honea Path early Wednesday morning when Wardell decided to test the bulletproof vest. Anderson County Deputy Coroner Don McCown told reporters that there was no evidence of drug use or heavy drinking at the scene.
Wardell's friends attempted CPR, but were unable to revive him. Emergency officials were called at 2:41 a.m., and found Wardell with a single gunshot wound to the chest from a small-caliber weapon.
Early evidence indicates that the killing was accidental.
"It wasn't a fight. They were actually going to take a shot at the vest," McCown told The State newspaper. "They were going to shoot the victim with the vest on. And he was shot in the chest, just above the vest."
McCown stated that the vest appeared to be 10-15 years old.
Bulletproof vests range from having 0.16" of padding to being stab-resistant and having thick metal plates. It is unclear what level of protection Wardell was testing out.
According to the arrest warrant, the bullet passed through the edge of the vest, and hit Wardell. His death has been classified as a homicide.
Lt. Sheila Cole told reporters that Kelly has been charged with involuntary manslaughter, and is being held in the Anderson County Detention Center on $10,000 bond.
If convicted, she faces up to five years in prison. Lt. Cole said the investigation is ongoing.
