Man shoots himself in head at shooting range, police say (Albuquerque)

The Albuquerque Journal ^ | March 30, 2015 | Nicole Perez and Elise Kaplan

[CedarDave]

A man walked into Calibers shooting range, rented a gun and shot himself in the head with it Monday, according to the Albuquerque Police Department. He died at a local hospital.

Police say the man used a gun rented from the indoor range, which is near Washington and I-40, to commit suicide. Tanner Tixier, a spokesman for APD, said police believe he shot himself in the head.

Doctors found a suicide note in his pocket. His identity has not been released.

[CedarDave]

If you have to kill yourself, this is one way to do it that minimizes collateral damage. I'm thinking of that German pilot last week that took 149 innocents with him. But closer to home, suicide by cop, jumping off a bridge into traffic or lying down on RR tracks greatly traumatize others, especially those directly affected and who see the pieces. Of course the best way is not to do it at all, but seek help from others -- doctors, pastors, counselors, etc. trained to help depressed, suicidal persons.

[tet68]

I hope at least the deposit was non-refundable.

[Resolute Conservative]

Must have did his taxes...

[Yo-Yo]

So you don’t think the other shooters at the range or the people who work at the range were traumatized?

[Usagi_yo]

“They don’t think it’s terrorist related.” /s

[MPJackal]

Must have did his taxes...

I did mine and it was..........not what I expected. went from a several thousand dollar refund to owing a grand. A big turn around. I wanted to shoot someone, but it wasn’t me.

[rktman]

Nah. According to nannie bloomers and the momunists, this happens hundreds of times every day. No, really. If you rent a gun your chances of killing yourself rise over 500%. Just glad he didn’t take his family out before. Well, if he had one.

[bjorn14]

A lot of ranges are adopting a policy of needing two people to shoot together to hopefully cut down on this happening.

[Billthedrill]

Baby Bro used to be a Range Officer for a popular indoor range in California. Some guy did the same thing. This was the days before commercial crime scene cleanup was a thing, and so guess who had to sponge up the gooey bits? Not a happy camper.

The range I used to patronize in Washington state had something like this happen, and they addressed it by only renting firearms to range members. That was really too bad for anyone who didn't want to pay that much money for the privilege of trying out firearms but that's what they had to do.

The point is that this sort of action does penalize other people, some in a very nasty way.

[Zhang Fei]

If you have to kill yourself, this is one way to do it that minimizes collateral damage.

He could have simply taken an overdose of sleep aids, and then sent a letter to the cops with his home address. That way only a coroner and the cops have to see his sorry carcass. Not very considerate of him, but obviously more considerate than the German pilot and the jumpers who land on pedestrians.

[Cementjungle]

A former co-worker of mine did that at a range in Burbank. He was a big dude, about 6''5" and had a wicked temper. He stormed off the job one day, and many months later they took him back. A few months later he went to the range and blew his head off.

He seemed more the type to come into the office and shoot the place up... glad he didn't.

[Blackirish]

It happens so much lots of gun ranges won’t rent to someone who is alone

[umgud]

Inconsiderate bastard.

[Tijeras_Slim]

I’ve shot at this range on a number of occasions. It’s a very nice facility, and I know several employees and regulars.

Shame for this to happen, I guess they’ll have to change their rental policy.

The last time someone was shot there, it was a lady that had a hot empty go down her cleavage and while doing the unhappy dance she popped herself in the leg with a .22.

[JewishRighter]

We had two of these at a local range within the last year. It makes me hesitate to go shooting there, which I usually do alone. Not only afraid of witnessing something horrible, but if folks are willing to shoot themselves at a range, it ain’t too far of a leap to shoot someone else.

[Psalm 73]

"...rented a gun and shot himself in the head..."

OK, but could he do it from 20 yards....

[CedarDave]

I mentioned suicide by RR. I have friends who are railroaders - it happens very frequently and very publicly. Other than EMTs and LEOs, this group is the most likely to be traumatized by their selfish actions.

Here is one from yesterday morning:

SUNNYVALE -- After only three months, a young man became the 10th fatality on Caltrain tracks this year -- matching the total number of fatalities involving the commuter train in all of 2014.
A "preliminary investigation indicates that this was an intentional act," Caltrain spokesman Will Reisman said of the victim who was hit at 11:39 a.m. Sunday by train No. 426, on the southbound tracks, just north of Mary Avenue.
At least 94 suicide attempts were stopped in the past three years on Caltrain's 77 miles of tracks, according to the railroad.
The identity of Sunday's victim was not released immediately. Authorities estimated he was 20 years old.
Sunnyvale: Caltrain strikes, kills pedestrian

[DesertRhino]

Yeah, except he cost that small business a days profits, probably somehow got them on the hook for a lawsuit they really could have done little to prevent, endangered and needlessly traumatized bystanders, and made life worse for everyone else there.

He could have gone off into the Sandias and hanged himself.
Lots a ways to off yourself without endangering someone else’s livelihood or safety.

Total jerk in my opinion.

[DesertRhino]

“A lot of ranges are adopting a policy of needing two people to shoot together to hopefully cut down on this happening.”

And ranges are often visited by single people who have nobody else in their life interested in shooting. Or they want to just be alone and slowly savor putting a box of 38s thru a target pistol.
Or they are working on one particular target skill and don’t really want to chat and talk. Its a relaxation for many people.

[Shimmer1]

It sure does.