Crime Q&A: Has man stood trial for friend’s death in bullet-proof vest test?

Q: Elijah Ray Lambert was arrested and charged with murder after he and some of his friends were in a local park “testing out” a bullet-proof vest, which Elijah’s roommate was wearing. Elijah pulled the trigger and his roommate died. What was the outcome of this event? Where is Elijah now?

A: Elijah Ray Lambert, 23, is in Sacramento County Jail awaiting trial on a murder charge in the May 22, 2015 death of 19-year-old Miguel Martinez.

His next court date, for a trial readiness conference, is Feb. 2, with a trial set for Feb. 28, according to Sacramento Superior Court records available online.

The fatal shooting occurred about 9:45 p.m. near the river access and bike trail area outside of Bannister Park in Fair Oaks. Sacramento County sheriff’s officials said Lambert, Martinez and a group of friends went to the park to test the vest. Investigators said they were told by Martinez’s friends that the stunt was inspired by an internet video of a person fired on with a .25-caliber handgun while wearing a ballistic vest.

Martinez reportedly volunteered to don the vest for the test and was wearing it when when Lambert pulled the trigger. After realizing that Martinez had been wounded, his friends called 911. Sheriff’s officials said Lambert concocted a story claiming that two men tried to rob the group and that the gun accidentally went off during the robbery. Investigators said the story didn’t hold up and Lambert was arrested.

This story was originally published October 10, 2016 at 8:52 PM with the headline "Crime Q&A: Has man stood trial for friend’s death in bullet-proof vest test?."