an Dies in Body Armor Acciden 
2003 Reader Submission
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an dies in body armor accident
26-year-old stabbed in 'demonstration'
By Kieran Nicholson, Denver Post Staff Writer
A 26-year-old man was stabbed to death when he donned a bullet- proof vest and the victim's uncle plunged a knife into his chest to test the body armor, police said.
The stabbing happened about 2:45 p.m. Friday at a home on the 9900 block of West 20th Avenue, said Steve Davis, a Lakewood Police Department spokesman.
Gabriel Aranda, 26, was taken to St. Anthony's Central Hospital, where he died a short time later, Davis said.
Amando Aranda, 32, the victim's uncle, was arrested on suspicion of first degree murder, Davis said.
"The suspect and victim were trying to demonstrate their belief that this type of protective vest could withstand a knife attack," Davis said. "Obviously that was incorrect."
The knife pierced the victim's heart, Detective Mike Rushford said.
Also in the home at the time of the incident were two boys, a 14- year-old and a 4-year-old.
The victim and Amando Aranda planned to show the teenager "what the vest could protect against," according to court documents.
Amando Aranda used a "long black-handled knife" from the kitchen and "poked" his nephew once, according to an arrest affidavit.
The two men had previously carried out the same demonstration four or five times in front of witnesses without injury, Amando Aranda told investigators.
In an attempt to save Gabriel Aranda, Amando Aranda used his finger to plug the knife wound in the victim's chest until paramedics arrived, the affidavit said.
The two men had shared a pint of whiskey, drank beer and smoked marijuana before the fatal demonstration, the affidavit said.
Aranda appeared in court Monday and has another court appearance scheduled Wednesday, said Pam Russell, a spokeswoman for the Jefferson County District Attorney's Office.
Aranda is being held without bond at the Jefferson County Jail.
arilyn Robinson of The Denver Post contributed to this report.
Submitted on 06/24/2003
Submitted by:
DEb
Reference:
Denver Post 06/24/2003
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