Man dies after asking friend to shoot him while he wore bulletproof vest

Parker Ray Lynch suffers wound to abdomen and dies in hospital

Graham County Sheriff’s Office, Arizona (Google)

A man has been killed in Arizona after he asked a friend to shoot him while he wore a bulletproof vest, officials have said.

Parker Ray Lynch, 25, died after Steven Watson fired a round into his chest.

Lynch suffered abdomen wounds and died in hospital, the Graham County Sheriff’s Office said.

The death on Monday evening came after the pair and a third friend had been firing a shotgun at the vest in the state's rural Central area.

Reports suggest Lynch then donned the vest and accompanying plate in order to be shot himself.

Mr Watson was arrested and booked on suspicion of manslaughter. It was not known by Thursday if he had an attorney.

It is not the first time such a death has occured in the US.

In March last year, Jason Griffin was charged with manslaughter after shooting dead a friend who was wearing a bullet proof vest at a party in Houston, Texas.

He told police his friend had asked him to fire.

Sheriff’s officials in Arizona say their own investigation remains ongoing.