Thursday, February 12, 2009

Manslaughter charge dropped in Russian Roulette case
February 04, 2009 07:14:00 PM
By S. BRADY CALHOUN / News Herald Writer

PANAMA CITY — A manslaughter charge against a local teenager for his alleged role in a Russian roulette death is being dropped, State Attorney Glenn Hess said Wednesday.

The charge against Dylan "DJ" Weiler, 18, of Panama City, stems from a New Year's Eve party in which Weiler allegedly brought a stolen .357 Magnum and dared William Proctor to play Russian roulette.

Investigators say Proctor rolled the wheel of the gun and fired at his head twice before killing himself on the third attempt.

The party was celebrating Proctor's 21st birthday, investigators said.

"We studied the cases from around the country that dealt with Russian roulette we found that the aggravating factors in those cases that supported the charge were absent here," State Attorney Glenn Hess said. In other successful prosecutions the gun was brought by an older person who dared a younger person to play, he added.
Flushing Man Accused Of Playing Russian Roulette
Thursday, February 5, 2009 – updated: 5:18 pm EST February 5, 2009

A man accused of playing Russian roulette with a woman's life stood trial in Belmont County on Thursday.

Jason Raynor, 23, is charged with felonious assault with a gun specification.

Raynor's trial started early Thursday morning and, as of 5 p.m., no outcome was known.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Russian roulette suspect has new charges
January 28, 2009 12:19:00 PM
By S. BRADY CALHOUN / News Herald Writer

PANAMA CITY — A local teen facing manslaughter charges has three new felonies on his docket.

Dylan John "D.J." Weiler, 18, of Panama City, has been charged with three counts of grand theft in connection with a Dec. 27 burglary of three firearms from 134 Derby Woods, said Capt. Jimmy Stanford. Weiler stole the guns from a safe at his girlfriend's house, then enlisted the assistance of others to trash the house to make it look like a burglary, Stanford said.

"We are still looking at this, and more charges may be pending," Stanford said.



Weiler then took one of the stolen guns, a .357 Magnum, to a Spring Avenue birthday party for William Proctor on New Year's Eve, Panama City investigators said. They added that Weiler handed the gun and a bullet to Proctor, who turned 21, and dared him to play Russian roulette.

"Do you want to play Russian roulette?" Weiler asked Proctor during the party, according to an arrest affidavit from the Panama City Police Department.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Coroner: Man dies from Russian roulette injury
Journal Star
Posted Jan 26, 2009 @ 08:37 PM
Last update Jan 27, 2009 @ 08:01 AM

PEORIA —

A man died Saturday from head injuries he sustained about two weeks ago while playing Russian roulette.

Peoria County Coroner Johnna Ingersoll said Jamel Anthony Sr., 24, of 1911 W. Proctor St. was under the influence of marijuana the evening of Jan. 8 when he began playing with a loaded revolver at 1527 S. Westmoreland Ave.

Anthony was in the kitchen of the house with several friends when he held the gun to his head and pulled the trigger about 8:40 p.m. The gun did not go off the first time and he pulled the trigger again, shooting himself in the head, according to police reports.

(NB. Really. How many times can you pull the trigger and call it roulette still? We are skeptical in this instance.)

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Soldier arrested for comrade’s Russian roulette death
By Indo-Asian News Service on Monday, January 19, 2009

A Mexican soldier was arrested in the border city of Juarez as a suspect in the death of a fellow soldier who participated in a game of Russian roulette, prosecutors said, EFE has reported.

Angel Olivas Valdez, 23, was being prosecuted for the death of Luis Felipe Chavarria Carranza in Ciudad Juarez, which is across the border from El Paso, Texas.

Chavarria Carranza, 19, died from a gunshot to the head early Saturday while drinking and playing the deadly game of chance, unofficial reports said.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Posted by: native Location: springfield on Jan 5, 2009 at 08:02 AM

Drugs,alcohol,guns and wanna-be-gang-bangers and Rap music are quickly becoming the "in" thing for teens and young adults.Its sad our society is embracing this new culture and leaving wreckage everywhere.Cure for it...stay at home Moms,attention giving activities involving both or 1 parent to keep kids off the streets.Get back to dressing normally,not making a spectacle of ones self to draw attention.Having morals and beliefs instilled in children that steer away from gangs and Rap-Krap music.Having respect for yourself and others and making neighborhoods nice again and not a "hood".Getting kids outside riding their bikes and exercising instead of staying inside playing games and watching horrible movies and videos.Heck,grab some cane poles and take them fishing or just nature watching.Keep them busy with outside chores and activities.Do away with gang mentalities and show them jails and prisons are where they will be following that kind of lifestyle.

[ comments from wjhg.com ]
WJHG-TV (Florida)
Charges Filed For Russian Roulette Game
Posted: 7:05 PM Jan 3, 2009

A Panama City Beach teenager is charged with manslaughter for his part in the New Year's Eve Russian Roulette game that claimed the life of a local man on his 21st birthday.

Dylan John Weiler, 18, was arrested Friday night as Panama City police investigated the December 31st death. Reportedly Weiler gave the .357 magnum and the bullet to William Proctor and dared him to play the potentially deadly game.

Proctor spun the gun's chamber and pulled the trigger three times before the weapon fired. The gun was pointing at his head.

Police indicated not only did Weiler supply the gun and the bullet, he also taunted Proctor to play the Russian Roulette. It all took place in a home on Spring Ave at Proctor's 21st birthday party. He was rushed to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Friday, January 2, 2009

WJHG-TV (Florida)
Russian Roulette Death
Posted: 8:06 AM Jan 2, 2009
Last Updated: 8:06 AM Jan 2, 2009


One of the final deaths of 2008 in Panama City apparently was the result of Russian Roulette.

City police were called to a Spring Avenue home on the eastside of town about 30 minutes before the arrival of the New Year.

Preliminary indications are the victim was with friends and produced a revolver which had one bullet in it. . He reportedly spun the gun's cylinder and told his friend "watch this."

He pulled the trigger, and nothing happened . He did the same thing a couple of more times before the fatal shot was fired. It was his 21st birthday.

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Telegraph.co.uk
Drunk German father shoots himself in front of family in Christmas Day Russian roulette
Last Updated: 12:21AM GMT 30 Dec 2008

A German family's Christmas celebrations were ruined when a drunk father killed himself while playing Russian roulette in front of them.

Ulrich Schmidt, a 52-year-old forestry worker from Cologne, drank too much schnapps at his family's holiday celebrations, police said.

After lunch, in a bid to entertain his family, he pulled out the .38 revolver he kept for work, to put injured animals out of their misery. As his horrified wife and children looked on, Mr Schmidt loaded a single bullet into one of the six chambers and spun the the cylinder of the gun.

Telling his children that he was going to play Russian roulette, he held the revolver to his head and then pulled the trigger.

Mr Schmidt collapsed in his chair as blood poured from his head. He was taken to hospital, where he died on Saturday.

[ related ]

Monday, December 29, 2008

Spiegel Online
Cologne Man Kills Himself at Russian Roulette
12/29/2008

It was a drunken act of madness that went tragically wrong: An inebriated German man decided to play Russian roulette with a loaded revolver in front of his family at Christmas, and lost.

Evidently charades or board games weren't exciting enough. A 52-year-old man in Cologne who had drunk too much on Christmas Day last Thursday picked up his revolver, loaded one bullet into the barrel and spun it, declaring "Now we're going to play Russian roulette!"



His wife, children, other relatives and friends watched on as the man, named only as Ulrich S., pointed the gun at his temple. "We thought he was joking," a friend told Bild newspaper.

Friday, December 19, 2008

WDEF.com (TN)
Cleveland Officer Charged in Shooting Investigation
Submitted by WDEF on December 19, 2008 - 12:54pm

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has charged Officer Jonathan Hammons with perjury and filing a false report.

They are not saying much yet about the case.

But it involves one officer shooting another last month in a Russian Roulette kind of game.




Officers originally reported that Chris Mason was shot in the hand when a gun accidentally discharged.

But since an internal investigation into what really happened.. Two officers have been suspended and a third has resigned.

(NB. The editorial team does not under any circumstances add commentary to this web service but we do have to point out: cops.)

[ UPDATE from Chattanooga Times Free Press ]
22-year-old Houstonian killed in Russian roulette game
Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle
Dec. 7, 2008, 12:11AM

A 22-year-old man died after he was allegedly shot during a game of Russian roulette at a northwest Houston apartment early Saturday morning, authorities said.

Four men and one woman were in the 8700 block of Hammerly around midnight to celebrate a new apartment one of the men had just rented when the men decided to play Russian roulette, authorities said.

Investigators learned that one of the men pointed the gun at his head, but the weapon did not fire a live round.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

The Eagle Tribune (MA)
Published: December 16, 2008 02:40 pm
Gun missing from scene of Russian roulette shooting
By Jim Patten
jpatten@eagletribune.com

LAWRENCE — A 24-year-old Lawrence man shot himself in the head during an apparent drunken game of Russian roulette and was in critical condition, police said.

And police said the gun Israel Rodriguez used in the ultimate game of chance was missing early yesterday.

Rodriguez was in the basement of an East Laurel Street apartment at the time of the shooting.

Saturday, October 4, 2008

Palladium-Item (IN)
Richmond 16-year-old dies from gunshot wound
BY MICHELLE MANCHIR • STAFF WRITER • September 27, 2008

A Richmond teen with a 100-megawatt smile and an affinity for drawing and basketball died Thursday night following an accidental gunshot to his head.

Corey A. Smith died three days after the shooting Tuesday. He had been on life support at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.



The Richmond High School junior was fondly recalled by a cousin, LaTosha Deloney, who said he attended church often and filled his days with school and a part-time job.

And she said most important to him was his family, especially his mother Amanda Wagner of Indianapolis and his "grammy," Mary Keller of Richmond.

The accidental shooting occurred about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at 515 S. Eighth St., the home of one of Smith's friends, Deloney said, adding that the family has no doubt the shooting was unintentional.

[ earlier coverage ]
yeh well it was my uncle and you know what why wasnt the "WITNESS" to the act there to show his respects at the veiwing today, he is supposed to be like family. As you read in the articles he was there helping the "WITNESS" the only guy he knew in Mendicino Co. he was away from his "REAL" family here in Sacramento! All I wonder is why the so called "WITNESS" wasnt at the hospitol with him now if your "FRIEND" let me remind you so called good family friend was shot or let me rephrease that shot themself at your house away from his family would you be by their side at all times if you have nothing to do with it? I know I would but you know what who cares what was found there, that is besides the point the point is none of us know the real story. My problem is this is not the 1st uncle they say engaged in an act of RUSSIAN ROULTETTE its rediculous and not right our family will never have closure

[ comments from the Ukiah Daily Journal ]
[ earlier coverage of the Raymond Harold Gage shooting ]

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Palladium-Item (IN)
Gunshot wound puts teen on life support
Family gathers around bedside of 'most helpful person'
BY MICHELLE MANCHIR • STAFF WRITER • September 26, 2008

A 16-year-old Richmond youth described by family as "the most helpful person" remained Thursday evening on life support at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.

Police say Corey A. Smith, 16, 809 N. 18th St., suffered a self-inflicted gunshot to his head.

His cousin, LaTosha Deloney, 23, of Richmond said Thursday afternoon several of the teen's friends and family members were at his bedside.

"We've got a hospital full of kids (to see him)," she said.

Smith,a junior at Richmond High School, was holding a .32-caliber revolver when it fired around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at 515 S. Eighth St., police said.

"From what we've been able to find it was just ... horseplay more than anything," said Lt. Brad Berner of the Richmond Police Department. "We don't think he intended to do anything. He was just playing around with it ... thinking it wasn't going to fire. According to a witness he fired once and it didn't go off."

Berner discounted initial reports indicating Smith might have been playing Russian roulette, a potentially lethal parlay situation in which participants place a single round inside a revolver, spin the cylinder and pull the trigger. Police are continuing to investigate the events leading to the accidental shooting, and also attempting to determine how Smith obtained the handgun.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

The Tunica Times (MS)
Shooting ruled accidental
Peter Thomas 25.SEP.08

The Tunica community is still reeling over the accidental death of a local teen on Wednesday, Sept. 17.

Just before midnight, Tunica County sheriff�s deputies found 17-year-old Patrick Davis of 760 Monroe Alley lying near the playground at Academy Estates with a single gunshot wound to the head. EMS and Tunica First Responders were unable to resuscitate the victim. Tunica County Coroner Glenn Grant was called to the scene.

Although rumors quickly began to spread that the shooting may have been the result of several youth playing Russian Roulette, officials made no comment on those allegations.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

WYFF4.com
Verdict Reached In 'Russian Roulette' Trial
Cannon Found Guilty Of Involuntary Manslaughter
POSTED: 3:18 pm EDT September 24, 2008
UPDATED: 5:51 pm EDT September 24, 2008

SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- A jury has reached a verdict in the case of a teen who killed his girlfriend in what deputies described as a game of "Russian roulette gone wrong."



Phillip Cannon was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in Kelly Kimbrell's death. He was also found guilty of pointing and presenting a firearm. The jury could have found him guilty of murder, but that conviction would have required proof of malice aforethought.

Cannon was sentenced to two years in prison for use of a weapon under the influence, but he was given credit for the 11 months he has already served, so he faces a total of at least 13 months in prison.

[ Earlier ]

Saturday, September 20, 2008

KTEN.com (OK)
Russian roulette death leads to plea
Associated Press - September 20, 2008 8:45 AM ET

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - An Oklahoma City man has received a 5-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to killing his cousin in a game of Russian roulette.

Nineteen-year-old Chase Dillon Erickson pleaded guilty Friday to first-degree manslaughter as part of a plea agreement with Oklahoma County prosecutors. He also will be on probation for another 10 years after his release.

Erickson originally was charged with second-degree murder in the Oct. 3 death of 25-year-old Joseph Welch.

Welch died shortly after Erickson shot him in the head.