Man shoots self in head at Scottsdale gun range
http://www.azcentral.com/community/scottsdale/articles/1016abrk-suicide1016.html
Laura Gold, Carol Sowers and Beth Duckett
The Arizona Republic
Oct. 16, 2007 04:54 PM
A 20-year-old man who shot himself to death at a gun club Monday had been “fighting inner battles he couldn't control,” an ex-girlfriend said.
Matthew Errico of Scottsdale shot himself in the head Monday evening at the Scottsdale Gun Club. Errico had recently been “trying to pray and contact God” for help, said Kristina Lucier, who dated Errico for 18 months.
“He was a great person and definitely impacted my life,” Lucier said.
Errico was attending Scottsdale Community College as a business major and graduated from Phoenix's Pinnacle High School in 2005, according to his MySpace page. He moved to Arizona from Washington State when he was 14.
Also on his page is a picture of Tupac Shakur on a $100 bill with the words, “Live by the gun, die by the gun.”
Police gave this account of Monday's incident: Errico entered the gun club, 14860 N. Northsight Blvd, around 7:30 p.m. and rented a semi-automatic pistol. He was given gun club instructions and paperwork before an employee lead him to the range to fire the weapon. The gun club requires people to watch a safety video and sign a release and waiver form before entering the gun range, according to its Web site.
Errico shot at a target for several minutes before facing the range master and shooting himself once in the head. He was pronounced dead at 8:20 p.m. at Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn.
A suicide note was found on Errico, but police are not releasing details.
Jason Phillips, general manager of the 3-year-old gun club, said he didn't know how many people were in the expansive facility when Errico pulled the trigger. But less than 24 hours later on Tuesday, the club was bustling with business.
Some people were there to buy guns, while others had been on the shooting range. Few had heard about the suicide, but were surprised that Errico chose the club to end his life.
“It would never have occurred to me,” said Glenn Caudle, 61, of Phoenix, who had come to the Scottsdale Gun Club to shop for a rifle.
Scott Hill, 20, of Scottsdale, who also was shopping for a weapon, had not heard of the suicide, but said he believes “if the young man was that troubled, he would have found someplace else to do it.”
Phillips said such suicides have happened at other shooting ranges around the country.
And despite meticulous safety procedures, “It is something that is always in the back of your mind.”
For Lucier, contacting Errico had been on the back of her mind. She had mulled calling him lately but “kept putting it off,” she said.
“There was something inside of me telling me to contact him,” Lucier said. “I just waited and it was too late.”
But the memories are still there for Lucier, who said her and Errico were inseparable while dating.
“He was a fun person to hang out with,” Lucier said. “We were best friends. We had loved each other.”
Holy ****! I was just reading a thread the other day on here stating why you must have your own gun when renting one at some gun ranges. I apologize if this has been previously posted elsewhere.
http://www.azcentral.com/community/scottsdale/articles/1016abrk-suicide1016.html
Laura Gold, Carol Sowers and Beth Duckett
The Arizona Republic
Oct. 16, 2007 04:54 PM
A 20-year-old man who shot himself to death at a gun club Monday had been “fighting inner battles he couldn't control,” an ex-girlfriend said.
Matthew Errico of Scottsdale shot himself in the head Monday evening at the Scottsdale Gun Club. Errico had recently been “trying to pray and contact God” for help, said Kristina Lucier, who dated Errico for 18 months.
“He was a great person and definitely impacted my life,” Lucier said.
Errico was attending Scottsdale Community College as a business major and graduated from Phoenix's Pinnacle High School in 2005, according to his MySpace page. He moved to Arizona from Washington State when he was 14.
Also on his page is a picture of Tupac Shakur on a $100 bill with the words, “Live by the gun, die by the gun.”
Police gave this account of Monday's incident: Errico entered the gun club, 14860 N. Northsight Blvd, around 7:30 p.m. and rented a semi-automatic pistol. He was given gun club instructions and paperwork before an employee lead him to the range to fire the weapon. The gun club requires people to watch a safety video and sign a release and waiver form before entering the gun range, according to its Web site.
Errico shot at a target for several minutes before facing the range master and shooting himself once in the head. He was pronounced dead at 8:20 p.m. at Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn.
A suicide note was found on Errico, but police are not releasing details.
Jason Phillips, general manager of the 3-year-old gun club, said he didn't know how many people were in the expansive facility when Errico pulled the trigger. But less than 24 hours later on Tuesday, the club was bustling with business.
Some people were there to buy guns, while others had been on the shooting range. Few had heard about the suicide, but were surprised that Errico chose the club to end his life.
“It would never have occurred to me,” said Glenn Caudle, 61, of Phoenix, who had come to the Scottsdale Gun Club to shop for a rifle.
Scott Hill, 20, of Scottsdale, who also was shopping for a weapon, had not heard of the suicide, but said he believes “if the young man was that troubled, he would have found someplace else to do it.”
Phillips said such suicides have happened at other shooting ranges around the country.
And despite meticulous safety procedures, “It is something that is always in the back of your mind.”
For Lucier, contacting Errico had been on the back of her mind. She had mulled calling him lately but “kept putting it off,” she said.
“There was something inside of me telling me to contact him,” Lucier said. “I just waited and it was too late.”
But the memories are still there for Lucier, who said her and Errico were inseparable while dating.
“He was a fun person to hang out with,” Lucier said. “We were best friends. We had loved each other.”
Holy ****! I was just reading a thread the other day on here stating why you must have your own gun when renting one at some gun ranges. I apologize if this has been previously posted elsewhere.
