South Carolina Man Dies After Friend Allegedly Misses Bulletproof Vest

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A South Carolina man was killed on Wednesday after he put on a bulletproof vest, asked his friend to shoot him, and the friend allegedly missed the vest, according to television station WYFF.

Blake Wardell, 26, was with a few friends at a home in Anderson County, S.C. when they decided to try on the bulletproof vest and have someone shoot it, deputy coroner Don McCown told Fox affilliate WHNS.

Wardell bled to death after the bullet missed the vest and wounded him in the chest. His friend, Taylor Ann Kelly, 18, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter, according to police.

Kelly could face up to five years in prison.

Police have classified Wardell’s death as a homicide and said drug and alcohol use were not involved in the incident. Police were still investigating the shooting.

Photo of Taylor Ann Kelly via the Anderson County, S.C. Sheriff’s Office.

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Notable Replies

  1. Told’ja these guys were crappy shots besides being careless.

  2. 26 and from South Carolina. Unclear if the guy actually qualifies for a Darwin Award for removing himself from the gene pool before reproducing.

  3. Leaves one speechless doesn’t it.

  4. Because shooting at a watermelon wearing the vest would have been wasteful.

  5. I guess only in SC do folks do something this stupid WITHOUT being impaired by drugs or alcohol…

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