The Pedro Ruiz Case: The YouTube Stunt That Killed a Young Father in Front of a Camera (2017)

A young couple set up two cameras in a quiet Minnesota yard. Minutes later, one of them would be dead.

Sketch illustration of Pedro Ruiz III and Monalisa Perez outside their home on the day they prepared to film the stunt that later led to Ruiz’s death.

A Young Family Trying to Build Something

In the summer of 2017, Pedro Ruiz III and Monalisa Perez were living in Halstad, Minnesota, a small rural town near the North Dakota border.

They were raising a three-year-old daughter and expecting another child. Like many young couples, they were trying to build a future while navigating financial pressures and the uncertainty of early adulthood.

One of their shared projects was a small YouTube channel. They posted pranks, challenges, and personal videos, hoping to grow an audience. The channel had modest attention, but Ruiz believed bigger and more dramatic ideas could change that.

Family members later described him as adventurous and impulsive, someone who often pushed boundaries and believed things would work out.

The Experiment That Led to the Plan

In the weeks before the shooting, Ruiz began experimenting with whether bullets could pass through thick hardcover books.

According to statements later given to investigators, he fired at books and showed Perez the results. He believed the pages could slow or stop a bullet. Those experiments convinced him the idea was safe.

Perez was hesitant. Transcripts and investigative records indicate she expressed fear about the plan, but Ruiz reassured her repeatedly that he had tested it and that it would work.

What began as an experiment slowly became a plan to film the stunt for their channel.

Sketch illustration of Pedro Ruiz III shortly before the stunt was filmed outside the couple’s home in Halstad, Minnesota. Investigators later confirmed cameras had been set up to record the experiment.

June 26, 2017

On the evening of June 26, the couple prepared to record outside their home.

Two cameras were set up to capture the scene from different angles.

Ruiz held a hardcover encyclopedia against his chest. Perez stood several feet away holding a .50-caliber Desert Eagle handgun, a firearm known for its high velocity and penetrating power.

Their three-year-old daughter was nearby in the yard.

The cameras were already recording when the final moments unfolded.

The Shot

According to transcripts later released in court proceedings, Perez hesitated again and expressed fear. Ruiz encouraged her to continue, repeating that the book would stop the bullet.

Perez fired once.

The bullet passed through the book and struck Ruiz in the chest. He collapsed almost immediately.

The entire event lasted only seconds.

Sketch illustration of a hardcover book similar to the one used in the experiment. Investigators determined the bullet passed through the book and struck Ruiz.

The Emergency Call

Perez called 911 shortly afterward, telling the dispatcher they had been filming a video and that her boyfriend had been shot.

Emergency responders arrived, but Ruiz could not be saved. He was 22 years old.

The video footage from both cameras was seized as evidence. It has never been publicly released.

The Investigation

Investigators recovered:

• The handgun used in the shooting

• The damaged book

• The recorded footage

• Statements from Perez and witnesses

Authorities determined there was no evidence of a struggle or intent to kill. The evidence showed the shooting occurred during a planned stunt.

Investigators also confirmed Ruiz had encouraged Perez to proceed and had previously tested shooting books, believing they could stop a bullet.

The case quickly drew national attention, largely because it highlighted the risks associated with increasingly dangerous online content.

Charges and Court Proceedings

Monalisa Perez was charged with second-degree manslaughter, a charge used when reckless actions result in death without intent to kill.

She later pleaded guilty.

In 2018, a judge sentenced her to:

• 180 days in jail

• 10 years of supervised probation

• A lifetime ban on possessing firearms

As part of her probation conditions, Perez was also prohibited from profiting from the video or from the story of the incident.

Sketch illustration of Monalisa Perez after her arrest in connection with the shooting. She later pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter.

The Lasting Impact

The consequences extended far beyond the courtroom.

Two young children grew up without their father. Families on both sides spoke publicly about grief, regret, and the permanence of what had happened.

The video Ruiz hoped would bring attention to their lives instead became evidence in a criminal case, sealed and never released to the public.

A Case That Raised Difficult Questions

The Pedro Ruiz case became one of the most widely discussed examples of how quickly risk can escalate.

Investigators later noted that earlier experiments, repetition, and growing confidence had created a false sense of control. What began as curiosity gradually became something far more dangerous.

It was not a crime planned in anger. It was a decision made in a moment that could not be undone.

Case Facts

Location: Halstad, Minnesota, United States

Year: 2017

Victim: Pedro Ruiz III

Responsible Person: Monalisa Perez

Outcome: On June 26, 2017, Pedro Ruiz III and Monalisa Perez filmed a YouTube stunt in which Ruiz held a hardcover book against his chest while Perez fired a handgun. The bullet passed through the book and struck Ruiz. Perez called 911 immediately. She later pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter and was sentenced to 180 days in jail, 10 years of probation, a lifetime firearm ban, and was prohibited from profiting from the incident.

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