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(SC) Man dies after being shot while wearing bullet-proof vest
The State ^ | May 14, 2014 | ALISON NEWTON, CHARMAINE SMITH-MILES

Posted on 05/15/2014 5:32:48 AM PDT by Gamecock

HONEA PATH --- A 25-year-old man is dead after he was shot Wednesday while wearing a bulletproof vest as he and his friends gathered in a garage on Broadmouth Church Road in Honea Path.

Blake Randall Wardell died at the scene after he was shot in the chest with a small-caliber gun, Anderson County Deputy Coroner Don McCown said. McCown said Wardell and about eight to 10 other people were gathered at the home when the shooting happened.

There was no evidence at the scene of a fight or struggle, McCown said.

"It wasn't a fight. They were actually going to take a shot at the vest," McCown said. "They were going to shoot the victim with the vest on. And he was shot in the chest, just above the vest."

McCown said the bulletproof vest appeared to be about 10 to 15 years old.

The shooting happened at around 3 a.m. Wednesday.

Deputies arrived at the home to find a man lying in the garage with a gunshot wound to the chest, Anderson County Sheriff's Lt. Sheila Cole said. Cole said people were performing CPR on the victim, and paramedics were called to the scene, Cole said.

Anderson County sheriff's investigators have charged Taylor Ann Kelly, 18, of Woodvale Road in Anderson, with involuntary manslaughter in connection with Wardell's death, Cole said.

In the warrant issued for Kelly's arrest, deputies state that they believe Wardell put on the vest and asked Kelly to shoot him. The bullet passed through the edge of the vest, and Wardell was hit in the chest. A handgun was used in the shooting, according to the warrant.

Wardell and Kelly knew each other as friends, Cole said.

The investigation is still ongoing but Kelly has been charged and is being held at the Anderson County Detention Center. Bond has not been set.

Cole said, based on state law, involuntary manslaughter is defined as the reckless disregard of the safety of others. A person convicted of involuntary manslaughter may be imprisoned for up to five years.

(Other sources report she is being held on $10,000 bail. GC)


TOPICS: Local News
KEYWORDS: darwin
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To: C. Edmund Wright

Those vests do not have infinite life spans, they get taken out of service based upon years in use or exposure to moisture (sweating). It’s almost certain that this vest was beyond the manufacturers recommended service life, thus giving them some additional protection against reckless lawsuits.


21 posted on 05/15/2014 5:53:30 AM PDT by nin_kasi
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To: C. Edmund Wright
…but watch someone sue the vest mfgr anyway…...

That's a given. Family related to the deceased will come out of the woodwork lamenting the loss of such a fine young man with sooo many prospects. Then out come the lawyers. Look for the young lady to be sued; the homeowner (even if they were renting); other party guests; the vest manufacturer... Possible defendants that the lawyers will at least take a close look at include the gun manufacturer, the ammunition manufacturer, the store where the gun and/or ammo was purchased, maybe the store where the alcohol was purchased...

<carnival huckters's voice> After all, these good people have suffered a loss! Good old ... what was his name? ... well, that's immaterial, he was very important to them. The only thing that will help provide some relief to their terrible pain and suffering will be large piles of cash. (of which I get a percentage) </carnival huckters's voice>

22 posted on 05/15/2014 6:02:35 AM PDT by ThunderSleeps (Stop obarma now! Stop the hussein - insane agenda!)
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To: Gamecock
0300 hrs. Middle of the week. Running with the wrong crowd. Playing with guns in somebody’s garage. All of them old enough to know better. Ever notice that at times like that, there's a little voice inside your head saying “this is a really bad idea!” Judgment. None of it found among the entire gathering. All them should be criminally charged.
23 posted on 05/15/2014 6:03:42 AM PDT by PowderMonkey (WILL WORK FOR AMMO)
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To: Gamecock

Guilty


24 posted on 05/15/2014 6:09:50 AM PDT by Bucky14 (And I would have gotten away with it too, if not for you meddling kids!)
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To: Gamecock
The shooting happened at around 3 a.m. Wednesday.

Under the influence of alcohol or other mind-altering substance, no doubt. Nothing good ever happens after midnight.

Guilty.

25 posted on 05/15/2014 6:20:06 AM PDT by JimRed (Excise the cancer before it kills us; feed & water the Tree of Liberty! TERM LIMITS NOW & FOREVER!)
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To: ßuddaßudd
Sad story, but the bottom line is that a bullet proof vest only works if the bullet strikes the vest.
26 posted on 05/15/2014 6:23:46 AM PDT by 2001convSVT (Going Galt as fast as I can.)
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To: Gamecock
25-year-old man

In regard to moral formation, actual information under control, and behavior, today's 25 is 1950's 9 year-old. The 18-year old young woman? In speech, thought, and behavior, today's 18 is in many ways an infant of the 1950's.

27 posted on 05/15/2014 6:25:40 AM PDT by Kenny Bunk (A gay Muslim foreigner as POTUS? Sure. What could go wrong?)
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To: Kenny Bunk

25 is the new 10.


28 posted on 05/15/2014 6:26:31 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: Gamecock

Culling the herd


29 posted on 05/15/2014 6:27:46 AM PDT by ChildOfThe60s ((If you can remember the 60s.....you weren't really there)
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To: defconw

Bemis and Butthead.


30 posted on 05/15/2014 6:35:54 AM PDT by X-spurt (CRUZ missile - armed and ready.)
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To: X-spurt

LOL, yep!


31 posted on 05/15/2014 6:37:26 AM PDT by defconw (Well now what?)
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To: nin_kasi
From the article posted:

Apparently,the shooter MOL missed the vest. Wound was "over the vest." Perhaps not worn properly, etc. etc. Also, beyond "small caliber" we don't know the details of the weapon.

Quite accurate to state:

Those vests do not have infinite life spans, they get taken out of service based upon years in use or exposure to moisture (sweating). It’s almost certain that this vest was beyond the manufacturers recommended service life, thus giving them some additional protection against reckless lawsuits.

32 posted on 05/15/2014 6:37:50 AM PDT by Kenny Bunk (A gay Muslim foreigner as POTUS? Sure. What could go wrong?)
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To: Gamecock
"It wasn't a fight. They were actually going to take a shot at the vest," McCown said. "They were going to shoot the victim with the vest on. And he was shot in the chest, just above the vest."

McCown said the bulletproof vest appeared to be about 10 to 15 years old.

Useless. Was the failure caused by missing the vest, (or only hitting the edge) or by the age of the vest? Cripes, answer some questions here.

33 posted on 05/15/2014 6:39:38 AM PDT by Fido969 (What's sad is most)
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To: C. Edmund Wright

…but watch someone sue the vest mfgr anyway…...

***
Yep. And notice that the writer mentions the age of the vest, which has no bearing on the fact that the victim was shot.


34 posted on 05/15/2014 6:52:34 AM PDT by Bigg Red (1 Pt 1: As he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct.)
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To: Gamecock
investigators have charged Taylor Ann Kelly, 18, of Woodvale Road in Anderson, with involuntary manslaughter.

What about the UNDERAGED POSSESION OF A HANDGUN ?

IIRC We are talking 21...

35 posted on 05/15/2014 6:53:52 AM PDT by mabarker1 (Please, Somebody Impeach the kenyan!!!! Once again dingy hairball, STFU!!! You corrupt POS!!!)
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To: Gamecock

There is an incident in the late 90s, filmed and is out there on the blood/gore sites of a marine daring another marine to stab him with his bayonet through his PASGT/Flak jacket. Knife went right through it and the look on the kids face was horrible. He knew he was DRT. Bled like a water hose when the idiot pulled the 7” knife out. It is about as gruesome and sad as the chechen beheadings of russian soldiers.


36 posted on 05/15/2014 7:10:45 AM PDT by DCBryan1 (No realli, moose bytes can be quite nasti!!)
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To: Gamecock

they are both idiots, he asked her to shoot him, she can’t aim, what a couple of morons


37 posted on 05/15/2014 8:08:24 AM PDT by yldstrk ( My heroes have always been cowboys)
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To: Gamecock

“Mr. President, this is David Richards, the president of the New Lease Body Armor Company. Have a seat, Mr. Richards,” Greenwell added, nodding towards the chair Dr. Berkowitz had occupied.
“Mr. Richards, Director Greenwell asked you here because he felt your knowledge might help the task force with this terrible situation we’re facing. However, before we get into that, I understand that you have some grievances about government standards involving your business. I’ve been told that your sales literature contains serious allegations against the government. Is that true?”
“You mean, how the NIJ standard kills cops? Sure, I explain that to everyone, but they still keep doing it.” Richards’ speech pattern was a stacatto burst of words that ended as abruptly as it had started.

Unintended Consequences, June 21.


38 posted on 05/15/2014 8:17:44 AM PDT by RandallFlagg (Uninstall Fascist Firefox. Get Pale Moon.)
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To: dfwgator
"25 is the new 10."

Sadly, for far too many outside of military service these days it's true. At 22 years of age, two of my high school teachers were both Captains in the Army during WW II. One commanded a tank, and liberated Ohrdruf concentration camp. The other was Audie Murphy's CO. He was awarded a Bronze Star, Purple Heart, the Silver Star Medal with four oak leaf clusters and was twice awarded the French Croix de Guerre – once personally from General Charles De Gaulle. Most 22-year olds I cross paths with these days look and act like 12-year old candy-assed boys, and many still playing with skateboards.
39 posted on 05/15/2014 8:22:02 AM PDT by PowderMonkey (WILL WORK FOR AMMO)
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To: C. Edmund Wright

Someone will sue because the warning label didn’t state the vest does not cover all parts of the body. Just like halloween superman capes have to say “cape does not enable wearer to fly.”


40 posted on 05/15/2014 10:23:26 AM PDT by Organic Panic
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