[sam_paine]

I've read things like this before:

Q. Why do Japanese people remove their shoes when they commit suicide?
A. The simple answer is that they are copying what they see in "trendy dramas" where suicides are common and shoes are often removed. The origin of the practice probably lies in the same place as the idea of taking off your shoes when you enter a house. Shoes are considered dirty and when one steps up to enter a house one leaves one?s dirty shoes behind. Taking off one?s shoes before one jumps symbolizes leaving the filth and dirt of the material world behind. Removing one?s shoes also serves the practical purpose of showing that your death was not an accident.

[Travis McGee]

Or the shoes came off while Bruno, Boom-Boom and Knuckles were dragging him to the window (kicking for his life) with a choke hold around his neck keeping him quiet.

[Lijahsbubbe]

Thanks for that info. As a radio personality here in the Twin Cities says, " I learn more here by accident than I ever could by design!"