Obituary: Gary Webb, Prize-Winning Investigative Reporter (Self-Inflicted Gunshot Wounds)

The Sacramento Bee ^ | 12/12/04 | Sam Stanton and Sandy Louey

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

Gary Webb, a prize-winning investigative journalist whose star-crossed career was capped with a controversial newspaper series linking the CIA to the crack cocaine epidemic in Los Angeles, died Friday of self-inflicted gunshot wounds, officials said.

Mr. Webb, 49, was found dead in his Carmichael home Friday morning of gunshot wounds to the head, the Sacramento County Coroner's Office said Saturday. He left a note, but officials would not disclose its contents.

[freecopper01]

From my recollection, I believe you are correct. There was never any solid proof of connections.

[sweetliberty]

"died Friday of self-inflicted gunshot wounds"

Wounds? Is it common for one to shoot himself in the head more than once??? Something isn't right here.

[DoughtyOne]

That Allende story was a hoot. I should appologize for giving you such a hard time with my first post too. Take care.

D1

[shield]

Kinda young to kill himself....wonder if this was actually self inflicted...sounds like pay back to me.

[jamaly]

Mena Arkansas druglord ping!

I wondered if this was Arkancide. It certainly fits the pattern.

[SmithL]

A less insensitive person than myself might have taken offense. But me, I'm having way too much fun here.
;)

[DoughtyOne]

Good for you. Thank you.


D1

[Petronski]

Are you saying he didn't die?

[sevry]

he didn't die?

He?

[Dan from Michigan]

Arkancide?

[woofie]

The Lizard People got him

[Petronski]

Gary Webb. You protested to use of the word 'die' in the headline. Are you saying he didn't die?

[sevry]

Gary Webb.

I understand he committed suicide. You have a problem with that phrasing?

[Gondring]

I prefer reporting of the facts, rather than the interpretation. He died of the wounds that were self-inflicted, according to the officials. And that's what the reporter reported.

[VOA]

SoCalparrot summed it up well in post 7.

Rep. Maxine Waters got more mileage out of this than it deserved, then even the
San Jose Mercury News admitted that there was "no there, there".

The one thing they couldn't explain away...why would a bunch of white guys in
the CIA start a cocaine epidemic...which took victims of every demographic category.

So much for the racial paranoia of this old, discredited yarn.
But it's still sad that the reporter eventually went down this road to his dark end...

[sevry]

I prefer reporting of the facts, rather than the interpretation.

So you want to believe he ACCIDENTALLY shot himself? rather than committing suicide?

[Gondring]

The sentence says what officials reported.

[Happygal]

he is just fine now...except for missing one eye. well mentally he probably isn't just fine

I'm sorry, I shouldn't laugh. But I did. That's one really funny post.

[sevry]

The sentence says what officials reported.

I guess you're right if he didn't die. He didn't commit suicide if he's still alive.

[Gondring]

No, I'm right, period.

Tell me what the officials reported, without adding a spin. I don't want the press to sanitize what the officials said. I don't want them to filter it or change it.

Put it this way...if the officials didn't say "suicide," but the reporter reported that they did, you'd be complaining that they were whitewashing what the officials said, no? As it is, the sentence is a straightforward report.