News

Actions

Florida man fatally shot after asking if bulletproof vest works

Posted
and last updated

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - Police say a Florida man asking if a bulletproof vest "still worked" was fatally shot by his cousin.

A Tampa police report says 23-year-old Joaquin Mendez put on the vest late Saturday and "wondered aloud whether it still worked."

 

Police say his cousin, 24-year-old Alexandro Garibaldi, pulled out a gun and responded, "Let's see."

Officers found Mendez outside the house with a gunshot wound in his chest. Mendez died at a hospital.

According to the report, Garibaldi initially told officers he found his wounded cousin after hearing a gunshot. However, police say a witness described Garibaldi shooting Mendez.

Police say the vest was found inside the house with a gunshot.

Garibaldi was held Sunday without bond on a manslaughter charge. Hillsborough County jail records didn't show whether he had an attorney.

,

Weather

Daily Forecast

View Hourly Forecast

Day

Conditions

HI / LO

Precip

Sunday

03/23/2025

Sunny

75° / 53°

0%

Monday

03/24/2025

Sunny

86° / 57°

6%

Tuesday

03/25/2025

Mostly Sunny

91° / 62°

3%

Wednesday

03/26/2025

Sunny

86° / 58°

1%

Thursday

03/27/2025

Cloudy

73° / 50°

15%

Friday

03/28/2025

Partly Cloudy

68° / 46°

9%

Saturday

03/29/2025

Partly Cloudy

70° / 50°

3%

Sunday

03/30/2025

Mostly Cloudy

74° / 54°

13%