An Oregon teenager killed himself while playing a game of Russian roulette.
The teen was already dead by the time police arrived at 4 a.m. at Carriage Park Estates, a mobile home community. The boy’s body was removed after the medical examiner arrived on the scene.
Police initially responded to a report of a suicide with a weapon, but additional calls to 911 said that the teen was playing Russian roulette.
Sherwood Police Capt. Ty Hanlon told KOIN that there was at least on “click” of the weapon before it fired. Police described the handgun as a .357 revolver. The gun was not fully loaded. It is unclear where the gun came from and how the teen got it.
“It appears that he brought a handgun with him and from witnesses accounts that he was playing a game known as Russian roulette,” Hanlon said. “We believe that he showed up and initiated this all on his own.”
Several other young adults were present when the teen shot himself, according to Hanlon. All were around 20 years of age. The deceased teen was related to those present and is believed to be from Marion County.
Police are now looking into the boy’s background to determine if he had any suicidal tendencies.
Ken McPherson, a neighbor who lives nearby, told KOIN he didn’t hear the shooting. McPherson said teens regularly hang out at the home where the shooting occurred, but that there has never been any trouble.
“It’s usually kids younger than 20 that I see down there,” McPherson said.
Police are interviewing the other people present at the time of the incident to attempt to determine the cause.
