Daniel Barber, a 69-year-old male from Houston, TX, passed away on March 4, 2018. The circumstances surrounding his death were quite unusual and tragic. Barber was shot while wearing a bulletproof vest at a party hosted at his garage apartment on W. 23rd in the Heights. According to reports, Jason Griffin, 39, brought a gun and the bulletproof vest to the party. Barber tried on the vest, and there was a gunshot.
There are conflicting accounts about what happened next.
Barber's fiancée, Mollie Tillman, stated that Barber would never have asked to be shot and that he was just trying on the vest. However, Griffin claimed that Barber said, "shoot me," and he didn't think the gun was loaded. Tillman disputed this, saying she had unloaded the gun when Griffin arrived.
Griffin was charged with manslaughter, unlawful possession of body armor, and being a felon in possession of a weapon. He was arrested and remained in custody, although he was hospitalized for a medical issue, reportedly a seizure. The case drew significant attention, and Griffin hired a high-profile attorney to defend him.
The incident raised questions about the safety of handling firearms and the responsibilities of individuals who bring weapons to social gatherings. Tillman expressed forgiveness towards Griffin, believing that he wasn't thinking clearly at the time. The case highlighted the tragic consequences that can arise from seemingly harmless actions when combined with dangerous elements like firearms.
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