Sean O'Donnell, 46, from Harris County, Texas, is awaiting trial in September on a murder charge after allegedly shooting his friend, Aaron Prout, 34, while intoxicated.

According to court documents, the incident took place on 17/8 at O'Donnell's home. The two former Marines, O'Donnell from the US and Prout from the UK's Royal Marines, were drinking together when they decided to take turns shooting at each other's heads while wearing Kevlar helmets.

While Kevlar helmets are designed to withstand significant impact, they are not entirely bulletproof. The inherent risk of their experiment proved fatal when O'Donnell shot Prout, resulting in his death.

Sean O'Donnell. Photo: KHOU 11

Sean O'Donnell. Photo: KHOU 11

Initially, authorities believed Prout's death was accidental, but a subsequent investigation revealed that O'Donnell fired the fatal shot. Despite O'Donnell's attempts to cover up the incident, the evidence against him was irrefutable, as the pair had shared videos of their dangerous game with friends, who had advised them to stop.

The Harris County Sheriff commented on the incident on X, expressing disbelief that two friends would engage in such reckless behavior. "It's hard to believe that two supposedly friends would take turns wearing a Kevlar helmet, inside a house, in a residential neighborhood, and use a rifle," the sheriff stated.

The sheriff further added that there was no reasonable explanation for the incident, dismissing any underlying motive or mental health issues. Both men were adults who should have known better, with one ultimately paying the price for mistaking military gear for party entertainment. Prout had served 10 years in the Royal Marines before moving to Texas.

Many commentators on the sheriff's post echoed the sentiment that the incident highlighted the dangers of reckless behavior, particularly when involving firearms and alcohol. The tragic incident serves as a reminder that guns are not toys, especially when combined with intoxication.