Teen arrested on manslaughter charges after shooting friend wearing bulletproof vest

BELLEVIEW, Florida — A 16-year-old boy was shot and killed earlier this week after his friend fired gunshots at him to test whether a bulletproof vest worked. 

Police say Christopher Broad and a friend were at a mobile home park in Belleview, Florida, when the two fired gunshots at each other to determine whether a bulletproof vest worked. When Broad was wearing the vest, one of the shots missed the protective cover.

Belleview Police Sgt. Michael Miley said in his report that officers were called to the home shortly after 7 p.m. on April 3. An officer entered the residence and saw Broad on the floor with a gunshot wound to the chest.

The accused shooter was performing CPR, according to Miley's report. Broad later died at HCA Florida Ocala Hospital, formerly known as Ocala Regional Medical Center.

Initially, police were unable to get any information because the alleged shooter was "distraught," the report said.

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Belleview Police officers arrested the accused triggerman last Thursday. He is charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child with a firearm. A second defendant is charged with making a false report.

Both defendants were booked into the Marion County Jail. Records show the accused shooter was released after posting a $30,000 bond. Bail for the second boy was set at $1,000. He also posted bond and was released. 

Both of the defendants are age 17. 

Contact Austin L. Miller on Twitter @almillerosb.