Monalisa Perez from Minnesota claimed after being charged in the shooting that it was a stunt gone badly wrong. Ms Perez, who is pregnant, was charged on Wednesday with second-degree manslaughter in the death of Pedro Ruiz III.
According to a criminal complaint, 19-year-old Ms Perez told authorities Mr Ruiz wanted to make a YouTube video of her shooting a bullet into a book he was holding against his chest. She says she fired from about a foot away and then fled the house, screaming. Authorities say 22-year-old Mr Ruiz died from a single gunshot wound to the chest.
Their three-year-old daughter was reportedly at the scene when the shot was fired at about 6.30pm local on Monday. Ms Perez told deputies that the stunt had been Ruiz’s idea, and that he had to convince her to do it. The book was supposed to stop the bullet in order to create a viral video.
Ruiz’s aunt said she carried out the stunt as she wanted to increase her online profile by gaining more followers on social media. The YouTuber publishes many prank videos, including one where she tricks her boyfriend into eating “the world’s hottest chili pepper”. In her most recent video, she speaks about her wish for viral fame. “Imagine when we have 300,000 subscribers,” she says. Many of her videos are called Mami vs Papi, in which she plays pranks on her boyfriend.
If convicted, Perez could face a maximum sentence of 10 years and a fine of up to $20,000.
