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Gun Crazy
BALTIMORE — A man was sentenced to four years in prison after fatally shooting friend in chest while testing a bulletproof vest.
According to the Baltimore Sun, in July 2014, Mark Ramiro, then aged 30, and his friends decided to film a "Jackass"-style video testing a bulletproof vest after a night of drinking and taking drugs.
Ramiro's friend of 15 years, the 28-year-old Darnell Mitchell, put on the vest and a third friend acted as the cameraman. Mitchell introduced the stunt saying, "He's about to shoot me in the chest with a deuce deuce".
As Ramiro aimed the gun at his friend, Mitchell instructs him to aim lower, pointing at a spot on in the middle of the vest. Mitchell was caught on camera saying, "Don't do too high."The bullet hit Mitchell in his upper chest, killing him.
The video became police evidence and Ramiro pled guilty to second-degree murder last year.
His attorney, Christopher Flohr, argued that Ramiro already paid a heavy price for the death of his friend, and should be spared jail and allowed to continue with a treatment program. Prosecutors called the incident a "colossally stupid action" and, while they agreed that the intent was not malicious, argued for some form of punishment.
Last week, a judge sentenced Ramiro to nine years in prison, five of which were suspended. The judge remarked the incident was akin to causing a friend's death in a crash while driving under the influence.
