Man Shoots Himself In Krueger Park
Mentor-on-the-Lake man called police to the park before shooting himself
Photos
A man shot himself in Donald E. Krueger Park at about 5:40 p.m. Tuesday, Mentor Police Lt. Dan Molnar said.
The man's name has not yet been released. He is a 37-year-old man from Mentor-on-the-Lake
Before he shot himself, he called the police department and said he had information about burglaries in the area.
When an officer arrived, he saw the man standing near the parking lot, as well as a second person by the park's restrooms.
The second person was not with the man and only there by chance, Molnar said.
The man said to the officer about the other person, "You need to get him out of here. He shouldn't see what's about happen," Molnar said.
Then the man took a few steps back, got on his knees, put a gun in his mouth and fired a single bullet, Molnar said.
The man never threatened the police officer or anyone else, Molnar said.
The man was alive when Mentor firefighters took the man to TriPoint Medical Center in Concord Townshp. As of 10 p.m. Tuesday, he was in critical condition at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, Molnar said.
The man had left a note in his truck, Molnar said. However, all it did was list three family members' names and say "Please call."
Molnar said police had no information as to why the man shot himself or why he called police beforehand.
Joe Strailey
8:50 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Very sad story.
Daniel Cook
10:23 pm on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
I'm terrified. I live only .2 miles away from this park and go there all the time
Ginger
7:12 am on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
How horrible, I feel for him and his family. May he find peace with God
Matthew Taylor
8:38 am on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
What are you terrified about Daniel? This wasn't a random act of violence towards anyone else. And a lot of people live near and visit that park on the daily basis. I trust the last thing he wanted to do was terrify poor Daniel. It's not all about you. My condolences to this poor man's family. Oh and Daniel I hope you feel better soon
johnnyvegass
12:37 pm on Thursday, June 21, 2012
Well said Matt,
Henry Schenk
11:20 am on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Well said Matthew. I too found Daniel's comment strange and a bit self indulgent. While it is alarming and sad that a person might find themselves at a place in life that putting a gun to their head in a public place is an option it is nothing for you to feel threatened by. Daniel's proximity to the event is meaningless to me.
tina vasko
2:52 pm on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Thank god there were no kids in the park to see it.
Scott Brown
3:09 pm on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
tina - it was a close thing. several kids had soccer practice shortly after it happened. Luckily, the scene was pretty much cleaned up and under control before any of them arrived - but police cars were all over the parking lot still.
HappyKamper
3:49 pm on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Wow, this is sad. I pray for his family and him. I hope he can come out of this and see how much we all have to live for.
johnnyvegass
12:41 pm on Thursday, June 21, 2012
Daniels comment is more disturbing than the story itself, get some help.
Nathan
9:50 pm on Saturday, July 7, 2012
Wow, I'm shocked that there are so many people that are perplexed by 'Daniel's' concern?! The fact that he is terrified is because it happened so close to home! He does not need help. And the fact that johnnyvegass thinks that his statement is more disturbing than the story just tells me HE needs help! All of you that have attacked 'Daniel' for his views is appalling. Do you guys have nothing better to do in your mothers basement than to troll on stories and gang up on people for YOUR misinterpretation?! I pitty you and your middle school teachers that have to face the fact that they failed at completing their job at taking you from adolescence to adulthood. Oh and happy trolling...freaks.
Gail
11:20 am on Sunday, July 8, 2012
I am the mother of the man in this story. Let me say that our son was a very giving and loving person. He was very much loved by his family, and would do anything for anyone. In the last few weeks our family has learned many things about what is happening to a person when they commit suicide. First off you most of the time you never see this coming, our son showed no signs of any depression, anxiety, or problems. Second, we will never have any answers as to why he felt this was the only answer. Third, the person's thought process is in no other place then to take their life, they are not thinking beyond that. There is a power much greater that is over them and that power is so strong it can not be comprehended by anyone. We also realize that as much as we have looked for an answer, as much as we pray that some little clue will surface, it probably won't. Our son needed to have peace in his life and felt this was the only way to go. We did get a text message from him about 5 minuets before he did this telling us he loved us and to please forgive him. As our family is still in shock, we are working on healing and beginning our new journey in life that has been given to us. Thank you all for your kind words and prayers.