Texas Man Charged With Murder After Deadly Helmet Shooting Game

A man in Texas has been charged with murder after a bizarre and deadly incident in which two friends took turns shooting each other in the head with a rifle while wearing Kevlar helmets inside a home, authorities said.

Sean O’Donnell, 37, was taken into custody at his residence in Houston on August 17 in connection with the death of 34-year-old Aaron Prout, a native of the United Kingdom, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.

Investigators said the two men were inside O’Donnell’s home, firing at each other with a rifle while wearing bullet-resistant helmets, when Prout was struck and seriously injured. He was transported to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

Authorities noted it was not clear why Prout died despite wearing the helmet, though such protective headgear is not designed to provide complete protection.

“Hard to believe two, so-called friends, would take turns shooting at each other wearing a Kevlar helmet, inside a house in a residential neighborhood, while using a rifle,” Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said in a statement.

Officials have not disclosed the type of rifle used in the incident or the distance between the men during the shooting.

O’Donnell was charged with murder on Thursday and is currently booked in the Harris County Jail, according to the sheriff’s office.