HEMET: Game of “Russian Roulette” alleged after man reportedly shoots self in head

HEMET — Officials are investigating after a male was shot in the head inside a Hemet living room earlier yesterday afternoon. Since the incident was first reported, other people who were in the home when the incident happened have provided several different versions of how the victim was shot. Investigators say they are now working to uncover the truth of what happened inside the home.

City of Hemet Police and Fire personnel along with other emergency first responders rushed to a home on the 2800 block of Rafferty Road, east of Gibbel Park, about 12:18 p.m., after receiving a 911 call reporting a subject with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

Radio traffic at the time indicated the person who called 911 to report the shooting told dispatchers at the City’s Communication Center that a person shot himself while looking at a .32 cal. revolver he wanted to purchase.

A Hemet police officer arrived at the residence within moments of the dispatched call and rushed into the home to check on the victim’s status. The first officer at the scene reported that the victim was still alive but had shallow breathing. Firefighters, paramedics and an AMR ambulance arrived within minutes and raced into the residence.

Medics eventually rushed the victim by ambulance to an area hospital with two firefighter/paramedics on board assisting. According to officials, the victim remains hospitalized and is being treated for the gunshot injury. Officials have not provided any further medical updates regarding the victim’s condition, but friends and family of the man have reported that he is in critical condition.

Officers detained several males at the home and all were later transported to Hemet PD where they were interviewed at length about the shooting and how it happened.

Based on what Hemet Police Lieutenant Eddie Pust called “suspicious circumstances” uncovered by officers during their initial investigation, members of Hemet PD’s Investigations Bureau responded to the scene and assumed the investigation.

After the shooting, a person who claimed her son was at the home when the shooting happened said her son told her the person who shot himself had been playing a game of “Russian Roulette” with the handgun when he shot himself.

According to the parent, who did not want to be identified, just before the shooting the victim – reportedly an 18-year-old from Anza – had already twice placed the gun to one of his legs and pulled the trigger.

The victim then reportedly placed the 5-shot revolver to his head and pulled the trigger one final time.

Citing the ongoing investigation, officials say no further information will be released at this time and their investigation is ongoing.

Robert Carter/Public Safety Incidents video

 

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 46, recently moved to Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers Valley News, The Valley Chronicle and Anza Valley Outlook as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident.

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.