"Too Close to Home"

I just found this article on the JEMS website... it shocked me. I hadn't heard anything about this. LFR is the fire dept. that we work closely with... our headquarters is located in LFR station 12. Just bizarre. The article also goes on to discuss the problem of suicide in Colorado. The suicide rate in CO is high compared to the rest of the nation, and that rate is increasing. The article provides an interesting examination of the effects of suicide calls on emergency personnel. I'll post again when part 2 comes out.

"On Oct. 29, death came knocking on Station 13's front door, but luckily none of the crew was there to answer. An elderly male parked his car on the lawn -- right in front of the station's sign just feet away from the day room windows and front service door. He got out, removed a large hand gun from the vehicle and shot himself in the chest with the high-caliber weapon. He apparently survived the first wound to his chest and then shot himself in the head. The second shot left him unconscious and barely breathing in a large pool of blood on the sidewalk. Station 13's crew was out of the firehouse at the time of the shooting. A series of station tones rang out in their vehicles, and a familiar voice aired an ALS response, "Engine 13 and Medic 13 respond on a possible suicide in front of your station, standby for law enforcement."

"This patient was no stranger to the members of Littleton's Station 13. Just five months earlier, he had attempted suicide using carbon monoxide at his home. Station 13's crew found him in his garage with the car running. He was semi-unconscious, barely breathing and saying he wanted to kill himself. He had written a note, collected his personal papers and provided his insurance papers for whoever would find him. The crew transported him to a local hospital, where he spent time in intensive care and received mental health counseling for his depression. He was released, only to complete his suicide wishes months later on the sidewalk of Littleton's Fire Station 13.

What was his motivation to commit this act in front of a public building, where so many school children have come for station tours? Of all places, why here? Did he come to the firehouse looking for the crews who had defeated his earlier suicide attempt? Was this a planned homicide-suicide quickly modified when he discovered Station 13's crew missing? No one will ever know his motivation even though a suicide note was found in his car. He did not mention why he chose Station 13 for his final moments, only who he was and who should be called after his planned death."

Full article