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closeSaturday, May. 10, 2008
Man loses game of Russian roulette
By VICTOR A. PATTON
vpatton@mercedsun-star.com
A 24-year-old man is dead after police say he lost a game of Russian roulette in front of his friends early Friday.
Merced police Lt. Bimley West said the victim was in the garage of a home at 690 E. 21st St. around 1:30 a.m. and had a revolver. Two of his friends were present -- and one actually watched the man take his own life, West said.
West said the man placed a single bullet in one of the revolver's chambers and then pulled the trigger.
"He wanted to show his friends something that would scare them," West said. "In this case it was just one trigger pull too many."
When the gun did not go off the first time, West said the victim pulled the trigger several more times until the gun went off. The man was taken to Merced Medical Center Merced and later died. His identity hasn't yet been released, pending notification of next-of-kin.
West said police are investigating whether alcohol or drugs were involved.
"Russian roulette is very senseless," West said. "Evidently, people still do it today, but it's a very senseless act."
Reporter Victor A. Patton can be reached at (209) 385-2431 or vpatton@mercedsun-star.com.
