Affidavit: 2 Arkansas men wear bulletproof vest, shoot each other
BENTONVILLE, Ark. (KTUL) — Two men were arrested Monday in Bentonville, Arkansas after they wore a bulletproof vest and shot at each other, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Charles Eugene Ferris, 50, and Christopher Hicks, 36, were arrested for aggravated assault and released on citation from the Benton County Jail Tuesday morning.
Benton County Sheriff's Deputy Dorian Hendrix went to a local hospital around 11 p.m. Sunday to investigate a man who had been shot multiple times while wearing a bullet-resistant vest, according to the affidavit.
Ferris told Hendrix that he had been shot six times, once in the chest and five times in the back, while protecting a man he called his "asset," according to the affidavit. However, Ferris' wife told deputies that he was on the deck of their residence drinking with Hicks when she heard a gunshot.
Ferris' wife says she went outside and saw that he had a mark on his chest, according to the affidavit. He later complained about the injury, and she told him to go to the hospital, according to the affidavit.
Ferris admitted he made up the story, because he didn't want to get Hicks in trouble, since they had been on the deck drinking when he told Hicks to shoot him with the bulletproof vest on, according to the affidavit.
Hicks then put on the vest. Ferris said he was angry about getting shot, and he "unloaded the clip" with the remaining five rounds into Hicks' back, according to the affidavit, but none of the rounds penetrated the vest.
Ferris was released from the hospital and arrested. Deputies went to Hicks' home and arrested him.
Deputies seized the rifle and vest, according to the affidavit.
Prosecutors have not filed a formal charge against Ferris or Hicks.
