Joaquin Mendez, a 23-year-old Hispanic male from Tampa, Florida, tragically lost his life on September 10, 2016. The incident occurred when Mendez, out of curiosity, decided to test a bulletproof vest. According to reports, Mendez put on the vest and wondered aloud if it still worked. His cousin, 24-year-old Alexandro Garibaldi, responded by taking out a handgun and saying, "Let's see." Garibaldi then fired a shot at Mendez, hitting him in the chest.
Mendez was found outside the house with a gunshot wound and was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
The investigation revealed that Garibaldi initially claimed he found his cousin wounded after hearing a gunshot. However, a witness provided a different account, stating that Garibaldi had indeed fired the shot that killed Mendez. The bulletproof vest, which was found inside the house, had a projectile entrance hole, confirming the witness's statement.
As a result of the investigation, Alexandro Garibaldi was arrested and charged with manslaughter and being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was held without bond at the Hillsborough County Jail. This tragic incident highlights the dangers of handling firearms irresponsibly and the severe consequences that can follow.
