News

Actions

Florida man fatally shot after asking if bulletproof vest works

Bulletproof vest test kills Florida man
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

12/07/2025

Partly Cloudy

50° / 41°

1%

Monday

12/08/2025

Mostly Sunny

53° / 41°

7%

Tuesday

12/09/2025

Partly Cloudy

53° / 40°

15%

Wednesday

12/10/2025

Partly Cloudy

55° / 43°

7%

Thursday

12/11/2025

Partly Cloudy

56° / 45°

6%

Friday

12/12/2025

Sunny

60° / 45°

5%

Saturday

12/13/2025

Mostly Sunny

62° / 45°

3%

Sunday

12/14/2025

Mostly Sunny

61° / 46°

4%