Father Christmas Slaughters Nearly Ten People!

[Big Orange]

Very sad time to have such a brutal and vengeful massacre occur:

Police: Santa gunman planned to flee to Canada

By CHRISTINA HOAG, Associated Press Writer Christina Hoag, Associated Press Writer – Fri Dec 26, 5:38 pm ET

COVINA, Calif. – Law enforcement officials in Southern California say the gunman who killed nine people in a Christmas Eve bloodbath at his ex-in-laws' Covina home intended to flee to Canada but was severely burned before he killed himself.

Police said Friday that after the shooting, 45-year-old Bruce Jeffrey Pardo used a homemade device to spray racing fuel around the home and that the vapor was ignited by a pilot light or candle. He suffered third-degree burns on both arms when it exploded.

Authorities say Pardo's Santa suit actually melted onto his body before he fled.

After Pardo shot himself to death at his brother's home, authorities found $17,000 on him and a plane ticket for a flight from Los Angeles to Canada.

Link

[Shroom Man 777]

That is horrific and totally freaky, especially the part where his suit actually melted onto his body. That's almost like, shit, Batman villain territory in terms of freakiness.

When they say 'shot himself to death', does that mean he blew his brains out? Because 'shot himself to death' sounds like he shot himself repeatedly until he died...

[Broomstick]

People have been known to require multiple gunshots to kill themselves. Apparently, aiming at oneself and pulling the trigger is more difficult than you'd think. Injuries may also interfere with aiming.

However, I believe "shot himself to death" is largely a journalist convention, as it sounds better than "blew his own brains out and splattered grey matter on surrounding walls"

[Edi]

Human interest and crime stories go to OT unless they have wider N&P implications.

[SCRawl]

However, I believe "shot himself to death" is largely a journalist convention, as it sounds better than "blew his own brains out and splattered grey matter on surrounding walls"

I can believe this. I actually used the expression "ate his gun" (when referring to the way my former employer chose to exit this vale of tears) during a job interview. I didn't get the job, though I can't say for certain that that was the reason why.

[Big Orange]

I somehow never liked the term 'shot to death', I prefer the term 'shot dead' but I digress.

In horrific cases like this I just wished the maniac just killed himself and not selfishly dragged a bunch of innocent people down with him.

[Stuart]

People have been known to require multiple gunshots to kill themselves.

This is indeed true. I know of a case where a perp shot himself 17 times in the head before expiring. Such was his remorse for his crimes, he paused to reload twice during the process.

[born in shadow]

People have been known to require multiple gunshots to kill themselves.

This is indeed true. I know of a case where a perp shot himself 17 times in the head before expiring. Such was his remorse for his crimes, he paused to reload twice during the process.

How on earth do you manage such a feat?

In any case, this is kinda scary considering I live in Covina...rather quiet town aside from that...

-Aaron, thought the police around here only picked up kids with drugs

[Stuart]

How on earth do you manage such a feat?

He had a little assistance

[Glocksman]

How on earth do you manage such a feat?

He had a little assistance

Don't police sarcastically call that a 'suicide with help'?

I could buy a story about a suicide shooting himself twice with a small caliber weapon in a non fatal area.
I won't buy a story about a 'suicide' shooting himself six times between the eyes with a Smith Model 66 loaded with 125gr .357 magnum SJHP's.

IOW, shooting oneself in a non immediate 'stopping zone' area of the body multiple times (especially with a less powerful cartridge such as the .25 ACP or .22LR) is believable.
Shooting oneself several times in the head with a slug loaded 12 gauge is not.

[Thanas]

Generaloberst Beck shot himself two times with a service pistol and still had to be shot by a soldier before he expired.

[Glocksman]

Generaloberst Beck shot himself two times with a service pistol and still had to be shot by a soldier before he expired.

True.
However the Germans issued a lot of different pistols to their troops during the war and I don't know which pistol Beck used in his failed attempt..
If General Beck shot himself multiple times with a 7.62 PPK or a 9mm kurz Sauer model 38, I'd find it easier to believe a failed suicide attempt than I would someone shooting themselves in the head several times with a 9MM Parabellum P38 or 44 Magnum Model 29 and surviving.

That said, there are always exceptions.

[Thanas]

AFAIK, Beck was unlucky in that his first shot only managed to blind him, as it did not hit the brain but the optical nerve. I don't know about his second shot, but considering he was blind and in considerable pain already, I doubt that his aim was perfect. So it is not like he took two shots to the brain and then was shot.

[Stuart]

If General Beck shot himself multiple times with a 7.62 PPK or a 9mm kurz Sauer model 38, I'd find it easier to believe a failed suicide attempt than I would someone shooting themselves in the head several times with a 9MM Parabellum P38 or 44 Magnum Model 29 and surviving.

German officers also sometimes carried 1910 model Mausers than were .25ACP.