Man accidentally shoots friend in the face as part of vigilance ‘drills’ to ensure they are ready to face real danger: Cops

Brad Markey-Perez

On March 20, 2024, Brad Markey-Perez accidentally shot his friend in the face at this home in Orange City, Florida, while they were testing one another’s readiness to face danger, Florida cops say. (Mug: Volusia County Jail; Screenshot: Google Maps)

Two friends in Florida played a game in which they tested each other’s readiness to face real danger. As it turned out, the only threat was to themselves.

The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday arrested 25-year-old Brad Markey-Perez after he allegedly shot his pal by mistake, authorities said. Deputies responded on March 20 to a shooting at a home in Orange City. They found the victim suffering from a gunshot wound to the jaw. Paramedics took him to the hospital.

Markey-Perez told deputies he and the victim like to have “drills” where they “practice with each other the importance of being vigilant of their surroundings, especially while armed with a firearm,” a probable cause arrest affidavit said.

“Both own firearms and they would have ‘drills’ where one would try and get the jump on the other as a form of training. These ‘drills’ are usually performed with unloaded firearms or using ‘cap’ style ammunition that is a nonfunctioning round,” the affidavit said.

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