Greg Toppo, USA TODAY, and WTSP-TV, Tampa-St. Petersburg, Fla.

TAMPA — Police in Tampa said one man is dead and his cousin faces a manslaughter charge after the pair allegedly tested out a bulletproof vest to see if it worked.

Officers responding Saturday night to a call of a person being shot found Joaquin Mendez, 23, with a gunshot wound to the chest, WTSP-TV reported. In the house, they found blood and a bulletproof vest with a hole in it.

The cousin, 24-year-old Alexandro Garibaldi, initially told police he heard a gunshot, the Tampa Bay Times reported. But police said a witness told them that Mendez tried the vest on as he sat in a chair, wondering whether it worked.

Man dies 'fooling around' with bulletproof vest, gun

Police said allegedly Garibaldi took out a gun, said, "Let's see," and shot.

Mendez was hospitalized, but later died of his injuries. Garibaldi was charged with manslaughter with a weapon and being a felon in possession of a firearm, WTSP reported.

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