A young man in South Carolina has died after he and several of his friends supposedly decided to try out a bulletproof vest. Unfortunately, something went horribly wrong, and the 26-year-old male was shot in the chest. Now two of his friends are facing felony charges for their supposed role in his death.
Two individuals, a male and a female, have been named in their involvement in this tragedy. First, an 18-year-old female was originally arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter for the death of her friend, but her charges were eventually reduced to being an accessory. Another suspect, a 25-year-old male, was later arrested and is facing involuntary manslaughter charges in this incident.
Bond was set for both individuals. The woman’s bond of $10,000 was paid, and she has been released until court dates are set in her case. There are no reports of the young man posting bond, which was set at $50,000. At this time, police are still investigating this matter and have stated that additional charges may be filed.
While the events leading up to this tragic event are still being sorted out, this is certainly a sad situation for not only the victim’s family but the individuals believed to be responsible. Under South Carolina laws, these felony charges could result in hefty fines and prison sentences for both individuals, if prosecutors are able to secure convictions in each case. As the future of two more young lives are at stake, a knowledgeable criminal defense could assist each of these individuals by walking them through their legal options and fighting the charges against them.
Source: wistv.com, “Bond set for man charged in fatal bulletproof vest shooting”, Casey Vaughn, May 16, 2014