A man who was trying to become a YouTube star was allegedly shot dead by his pregnant girlfriend in a prank video gone wrong.

Pedro Ruiz, 22, died after he was shot in the chest while filming a new video.

He and his girlfriend, Monalisa Perez, were trying to see whether a handgun bullet would penetrate a heavy book he was holding to his chest, according to the Star Tribune.

In the hours before the shooting, 19-year-old Ms Perez had tweeted: "Me and Pedro are probably going to shoot one of the most dangerous videos ever. HIS idea not MINE."

The Minnesota couple were said to be testing the powerful .50-caliber Desert Eagle handgun in the incident on Monday. Mr Ruiz had told a relative: "We want to get famous."

Ms Perez has been charged with manslaughter. The couple already had a young child, the Star Tribune reported.