Minnesota woman shoots and kills boyfriend in YouTube stunt

[Travis B]

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-40438207

A Minnesota woman has been charged over the fatal shooting of her boyfriend, in what authorities say was a social media stunt gone wrong.

Monalisa Perez, 19, was booked into county jail after shooting at Pedro Ruiz as he held a book to his chest, believing it would stop the bullet.

The couple's three-year-old child and nearly 30 onlookers watched as she fired the fatal bullet into his chest.

Ruiz's aunt said they did it to increase their social media following.

Claudia Ruiz told WDAY-TV that her nephew had told her he wanted to do the stunt "because we want more viewers, we want to get famous".

"He had told me about that idea and I said, 'Don't do it. Don't do it. Why are you going to use a gun? Why?'" Claudia Ruiz told the news channel.

"They were in love, they loved each other," she said. "It was just a prank gone wrong."

Ms Perez, who is pregnant, is facing charges of second degree manslaughter. She faces her first court appearance on Wednesday.

County Attorney James Brue described the book as a hardcover encyclopaedia, and said the weapon used was a .50-calibre Desert Eagle handgun.

Police have seized two cameras, which are said to have recorded Monday's incident.

The single gunshot was fired from about one foot (30cm) away as neighbours gathered to watch outside their Minnesota home.

She told deputies that the stunt had been Ruiz's idea, and that he had to convince her to do it.

Earlier that day she tweeted about her reservations.



"Everyone was crying. I was standing behind that tree over there. And that was it. I just couldn't take it anymore so I had to go back home," neighbour Wayne Cameron told WDAY-TV.

The couple had started a YouTube channel in March, aiming to show the "the real life of a young couple who happen to be teen parents".

Their most recently uploaded video, on the day that Ruiz died, was titled: "Doing scary stunts at the fair".

Last week Ms Perez told her viewers that it was a "blessing" to have her husband home for the forthcoming birth of their son, who is due in September.

Who would've thought teenage parents could be so irresponsible?

[Independent voter]

said the weapon used was a .50-calibre Desert Eagle handgun.

wut? did I read that right?

[Leyre]

Good, hopefully more youtubers follow their example

- - - Updated - - -

said the weapon used was a .50-calibre Desert Eagle handgun.

wut? did I read that right?

you made me google that shit, HOLY FUCKING GOD, not even the fucking bible cant stop a bullet from that thing



In case anyone wants to see said weapon in action

[Rustedsaint]

Dumb, I mean seriously wtf
I honestly fear this generation
did they even test this stupid idea before hand, probably not

[Knaar]

I think we have a candidate for the dawin award!

[Aitch]

I think we have a candidate for the dawin award!

Unfortunately they were able to breed twice before destroying their genetic material, so not quite.

[Ealyssa]

He made it to 22, quite impressive actually.

[The Stormbringer]

Jesus Christ that's a giant gun. I could see someone being stupid enough to use a .22, MAYBE if they were complete morons, but you have to be some kind of special to think getting shot by a weapon like that wouldn't end up with you dead or dying.

Maybe the boyfriend secretly had a death wish but didn't want to do it himself?

[jstnw89]

Jesus Christ that's a giant gun. I could see someone being stupid enough to use a .22, MAYBE if they were complete morons, but you have to be some kind of special to think getting shot by a weapon like that wouldn't end up with you dead or dying.

Maybe the boyfriend secretly had a death wish but didn't want to do it himself?

That's what I'm assuming.. there are some really dumb people in this world but this would take the cake.. probably depressed but lacked the conviction to do it himself

[THE Bigzoman]

19 yrs old.

3 year old child.

Did something stupid.


Real shocker there

[Kanael]

Survival of the fittest strikes again

[THE Bigzoman]

Brother in law has a gun like that. Calls it his "rick grimes"

[Logwyn]

you made me google that shit, HOLY FUCKING GOD, not even the fucking bible cant stop a bullet from that thing

Pffy. A Bible can stop anything you just have to have enough faith and it will work.

[Charge me Doctor]

"His idea not mine" - bullshit excuse, you should bail out of it regardless of whose idea it was.
And 30 onlookers and they didn't thought on calling an ambulance "just in case things go wrong"?

[Immitis]

but how many views did the video get?

[Machismo]

These are the stories that make me smile in life.

[Charge me Doctor]

On the bright side, he's due for a Darwin Award.

he has three kids. no, he is not...

[Doctor Amadeus]

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-40438207
Who would've thought teenage parents could be so irresponsible?

Well the good news is it worked! I am sure she is going to be really famous now if she can get that footage So...

There is that.

I think it's important to remember not rushed to judgement, mistakes were made, and nobody is perfect. I think she should be let off with a warning, she still could have a bright future especially now with the right agent.


Honestly I feel bad for the children. Not sure all of which ones, or who I feel the worst for.


very disappointing.

[Fencers]

There is a satisfying aspect to the incredibly dim among society offing themselves in a manner that defines good judgement and rational thinking. But the woman survived, so there is only so much joy to go around.

[melodramocracy]

Darwin smiles, opens a beer, nods approvingly.