YouTuber Asks Girlfriend To Shoot A Book He’s Holding With .50 Caliber Bullet, Ends In Tragedy

A tragic attempt to create viral content for YouTube ended in heartbreak after a young Minnesota couple’s dangerous stunt turned deadly, according to authorities.

Monalisa Perez, then 19 years old and pregnant with the couple’s second child, allegedly shot and killed boyfriend Pedro Ruiz III while the pair were filming a video they hoped would explode online.

Investigators say the fatal incident unfolded as the couple attempted a risky challenge involving a handgun and a hardcover book they believed could stop a bullet.

According to law enforcement documents, Perez contacted emergency services after realizing the stunt had gone horribly wrong. She reportedly told dispatchers she accidentally shot Ruiz in the chest while the two were recording content for their YouTube channel.

Authorities later charged Perez with second-degree manslaughter.

Family members described the couple as deeply devoted to each other and struggling to build an online following through increasingly dramatic videos.

Ruiz’s relatives said the idea for the stunt came from him, with the young father reportedly convinced that the thick book would absorb the impact of the bullet. Investigators said he previously tested the concept using another book and believed it proved the stunt could be performed safely.

The plan involved Ruiz standing in front of the camera while holding the book against his chest. Perez then fired a .50-caliber Desert Eagle pistol from close range as cameras recorded the scene.

But the experiment failed instantly.

Officials said the bullet tore through the book and struck Ruiz in the chest. Emergency responders pronounced him dead at the scene.

The shocking death quickly sparked national attention and renewed warnings about the dangers of internet stunts performed in pursuit of clicks and viral fame.

Authorities confirmed the footage of the shooting itself was seized as evidence and never uploaded publicly.

Just hours before the tragedy, Perez posted a message online teasing what she called one of the “most dangerous videos ever,” adding that the concept had been Ruiz’s idea.

The couple shared one child together at the time, while Perez was several months pregnant with their second baby.

Relatives later expressed disbelief that the pair thought the book could actually stop such a powerful round. The incident devastated both families and stunned the local community.

Court records showed Perez was released on bail following her arrest under several conditions, including restrictions on firearm possession and GPS monitoring while awaiting further legal proceedings.

The case became one of the most widely discussed examples of how social media fame and dangerous online challenges can spiral into real-life tragedy.