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Woman charged after YouTube stunt ends in fatal shooting of her boyfriend

A woman charged in the fatal shooting of her boyfriend told authorities it was a video stunt gone wrong.

Monalisa Perez, of Halstad, Minnesota, was charged Wednesday with second-degree manslaughter in the death of Pedro Ruiz III.

According to a criminal complaint, the 19-year-old Perez told authorities Ruiz wanted to make a YouTube video of her shooting a bullet into a book he was holding against his chest.

She says she fired from about a foot (0.3 meters) away.

This photo released by the Northwest Regional Corrections Center shows Monalisa Perez. Source: Northwest Regional Corrections Center via AP
This photo released by the Northwest Regional Corrections Center shows Monalisa Perez. Source: Northwest Regional Corrections Center via AP


Authorities say Ruiz died from a single gunshot wound to the chest.

The victim's aunt, Claudia Ruiz, tells WDAY-TV that the couple played pranks and put them on YouTube.

Perez was granted a public defender and released on $7,000 bail.

The charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.