US

Man Accidentally Shoots Himself in the Head While Demonstrating ‘How It’s Done’

A South Carolina man is dead after police say he shot himself in the head with a revolver while demonstrating the correct way to do it, WPDE reports.

Horry County police say the incident occurred at around 2:50 a.m. in the morning Friday at the man’s Conway home.

Witnesses reportedly told police James Gagum, 43, was kicked back in his recliner watching a scene from a movie apparently involving someone shooting themself in the head. Gagum then put his gun to his head and said, “That‘s not how it’s done.”

James Gagum Accidentally Shoots Himself in the Head Demonstrating the Proper Way to Do It

James Gagum seen in a previous mug shot for allegedly driving on the wrong side of the road (Source: Daily Mail)

He pulled the trigger once. Nothing. He pulled the trigger twice. Silence. However, the third pull of the trigger would prove deadly for Gagum. The gun went off, sending a bullet into his head, according to the report.

Gagum was pronounced dead at the scene after EMS arrived and attempted to revive him.

WPDE reports that they previously interviewed James Gagum when he shot and killed three intruders who broke into his home and threatened him and his wife in 2010. He was not charged in that shooting.

(H/T:: Gawker)

Comments (142)

1 2 3
  • WhatsThatAgain
    Posted on September 1, 2012 at 12:41am

    Obviously, he was correct

    Report Post » WhatsThatAgain  
    • mtnvortex
      Posted on September 1, 2012 at 1:09am

      Heh…heh…

      Report Post »  
    • Gorp
      Posted on September 1, 2012 at 1:50am

      What a way to clean out the gene pool!

      Report Post » Gorp  
    • nzkiwi
      Posted on September 1, 2012 at 7:19am

      What was that Mr Darwin…

      Report Post »  
    • MittensKittens
      Posted on September 1, 2012 at 7:39am

      I guess he needed that like he needed another hole in his head!

      Report Post » MittensKittens  
    • RJJinGadsden
      Posted on September 1, 2012 at 8:46am

      I had something like this happen in ‘83. I ended up with a boatload of paperwork, and the newly arrived attending physician freaked out. He was breathing for about an hour afterwards.

      Report Post » RJJinGadsden  
    • Detroit paperboy
      Posted on September 1, 2012 at 9:07am

      If Obama had a son……………………………………………..

      Report Post »  
    • rlimike
      Posted on September 1, 2012 at 10:36am

      Practice makes perfect.

      Report Post » rlimike  
    • jhaydeng
      Posted on September 1, 2012 at 10:49am

      duh………..

      Report Post »  
    • JACKTHETOAD
      Posted on September 1, 2012 at 1:57pm

      I hope his gun stays in the family.

      Report Post » JACKTHETOAD  
    • dmerwin
      Posted on September 1, 2012 at 3:07pm

      It appears that we will no longer have to use taxpayer dollars to house him. I call it a win-win.

      Report Post » dmerwin  
    • amtsoundsmith
      Posted on September 1, 2012 at 10:57pm

      At least he died doing what he loved…

      Report Post » amtsoundsmith  
  • OuttheSocialist
    Posted on September 1, 2012 at 12:39am

    Crap! Obama just lost another vote. I forgot Obama voters seem to be able to vote even after their dead.

    Report Post » OuttheSocialist  
    • Val_Dragon
      Posted on September 1, 2012 at 7:25am

      Obamas biological father is Frank Marshal Davis.

      http://Www.obamasrealfather.com

      Report Post »  
    • Fripton
      Posted on September 1, 2012 at 8:01am

      If I had voted for Obama I’d be shooting myself in the head too.

      Report Post »  
    • HoratiusAtTheBridge
      Posted on September 1, 2012 at 11:29pm

      Fool. (Kidding), but no one should believe that a trifling detail like being dead keeps the Obama faithful from voting. Every election reveals Democrat vote-fraud but the results always stand & the stories go away. The big. leaning stack of IOUs that is America is getting ready to flop over like damp, cat-urine soaked newspapers in a hoarders house. Will you be “inside” – in a city – when it happens? Or, will you go TODAY & buy even a flippin .22 rifle and ammunition – and a rake, hoe & maybe an axe? Will you put away “some” canned food, but more importantly have an idea of where to go when Ants and Grasshoppers goes live? It’s SEPTEMBER. The door is closing, with the wolf right at the other side. Choose wisely!

      Report Post »  
    • busterpuddles
      Posted on September 2, 2012 at 6:29am

      No. Obama just gained two votes.

      Report Post » busterpuddles  
    • turdsandwich
      Posted on September 2, 2012 at 1:17pm

      It wouldn’t be just one vote he lost. Just like he pulled the trigger three times, he probably pulled the lever three times in three different polling places. If these guys would only show the same work ethic as they do voting “early and often”… well, this guy won’t be a repeat offender anyway.

      Report Post »  
  • SignPainterGuy
    Posted on September 1, 2012 at 12:36am

    Good advice; be very careful when giving demonstrations !

    A friend of mine is the Personnel Mgr. at a local furniture factory. He told me of an employee who`s job it was to cut scrap boards into smaller pieces with a bandsaw so they would fit in a chipper. One day, he accidentally cut off his right thumb. A couple weeks later, when he`d recovered enough to return to the job to explain to the insurance investigator how the accident happened, yep, you guessed it, he cut off his left thumb ! True story !

     
    • MastrSSG
      Posted on September 1, 2012 at 2:06am

      I’m laughing so hard I am crying. I hope the insurance company paid out on the claim!

      Report Post » MastrSSG  
    • Tomfang
      Posted on September 1, 2012 at 7:47am

      The same thing happened to my shop class teacher in high school. He was showing a class of students how he cut off his finger on the band saw …and…ooops !!

      Report Post »  
    • db321
      Posted on September 1, 2012 at 10:14am

      I give the story of a man demonstrating to the Insurance Company how he cut off his thumb – 2 Thumbs up!

      Report Post » db321  
    • reality based lifeform
      Posted on September 1, 2012 at 10:35am

      that is not funny at all ! I’m giving you “ 2 thumbs down ” for posting this

      Report Post »  
    • Bigolfascist
      Posted on September 1, 2012 at 3:11pm

      Just trying to match up bookends.

      Report Post » Bigolfascist  
  • GodsPlan
    Posted on September 1, 2012 at 12:34am

    I lost a brother to a self-inflicted bullet from a pawn shop gun.

    First off- he was not crazy or stupid, just really depressed.
    If you value human life and you have to attempt to take another’s
    Life to protect your own and your family’s, you’ll definitely suffer for a
    Long Time like he did.
    Second – witnesses see him hold a gun to his head and pull the trigger
    THREE TIMES! He needs to be around people who actually care.

    I love my brother and suffer to this day (almost 18 years later) for his actions
    Wishing I knew that he suffered from horrible depression!

    I wish others on this site had some compassion based on the comments I see here.

    Report Post »  
    • WhatsThatAgain
      Posted on September 1, 2012 at 12:51am

      Compassion? Yes, for his family.
      According to witnesses, this man was not depressed. He just had a “Hey y’all, watch this” moment.

      It takes someone with zero regard to the basic rules to pull a stunt like this. Sloppy. Cavalier. Braggadocios.

      Report Post » WhatsThatAgain  
    • GodsPlan
      Posted on September 1, 2012 at 1:01am

      Compassion? Yes, for his family.
      According to witnesses, this man was not depressed. He just had a “Hey y’all, watch this” moment.

      Where does it say that witnesses say he wasn’t depressed?
      Reading minds lately????
      Come on, this obviously is a suicide based on that he killed three people to protect his wife. I‘m sure you’ve been in a similar situation and completely relate to his state of mind.

      Report Post »  
    • woodyee
      Posted on September 1, 2012 at 1:05am

      “If you value human life and you have to attempt to take another’s Life to protect your own and your family’s, you’ll definitely suffer for a Long Time like he did.”

      Not hardly. If (Heaven forbid) I had to pull the trigger to save my life or that of a family member, I’d dance a happy-dance on his grave.

      Report Post » woodyee  
    • GodsPlan
      Posted on September 1, 2012 at 1:05am

      I pray for him and everyone here. That‘s all I can say based on Jason’s wonderfully worded headline and the final statement in his article.

      Report Post »  
    • Chromo200
      Posted on September 1, 2012 at 1:08am

      GodsPlan Sorry about your brother .. I was going to make sarcastic remark about this story, but now I feel it is not worth my sarcasim and will be praying that you and your family deal with tragedy properly.

      Report Post »  
    • GodsPlan
      Posted on September 1, 2012 at 1:27am

      Thanks Chromo
      I had read an article in the newspaper a few days after his death about my brother’s suicide blaming the music that he listened to (AC/DC and Pink Floyd) for his death. If that was true, I wouldn’t be here either.
      My heart aches for families of suicide!!!!
      I thought my fellow Blazers were able to pick up on most editorial BS like this and I thought I was wrong until your comment. Thanks

      Report Post »  
    • grimmster
      Posted on September 1, 2012 at 1:36am

      @godsplan.
      What does a “pawn shop gun” have to do with your brothers suicide?Makes no sense to me why you would say that it was a pawn shop gun the your brother used to kill himself. When people get a little off base in their stories, it begs me to wonder……..

      Report Post »  
    • v15
      Posted on September 1, 2012 at 1:39am

      From GodsPlan – “Come on, this obviously is a suicide based on that he killed three people to protect his wife”

      Nowhere does it say he was depressed or that he intentionally meant to kill himself. I see it as an accident but somehow you see it as an “obvious” suicide because he killed three people in self defense. Show me where in the article that he couldn’t live with the torture day after day, the guilt became to hard to bear, and then laid out a methodical plan to kill himself.

      Report Post » v15  
    • proliance
      Posted on September 1, 2012 at 7:43am

      Godsplan, I’m sorry for your loss. Depression should be taken more seriously.

      Report Post » proliance  
    • the bean
      Posted on September 1, 2012 at 7:43am

      I agree….this was stupid but still we should have some compassion for the man’s family.

      Report Post »  
    • Mohawk77
      Posted on September 1, 2012 at 8:37am

      God Bless You for your kindness. I’m sorry to hear about your late brother. He’s at peace now rest assured and you will see him again. Some of the comments such as “clean the gene pool” are disgusting but yours touched me. I know pain but I will try to deal with it through prayer. Be well my friend.

      Report Post »  
    • Jenny Lind
      Posted on September 1, 2012 at 8:52am

      Wooyee, you say that really easily, but until you have taken a life for ANY reason, you cannt say that truely. I have been responsible for taking a life-accident, not my fault-but just the knowing in your heart you killed another of God’s children changes you. It should never, ever be “easy” to kill another person, even when you have to. My compassion to his family, I suspect something more was in play. I had a snarky reply until I read the whole article.

      Report Post »  
    • RJJinGadsden
      Posted on September 1, 2012 at 9:00am

      That is a difficult situation to address. Unfortunately I have had to respond to a number of suicides as well as too many other types of fatalities. But, suicides have bothered me more than anything else. I have always viewed this as the ultimate ending for what is often a very temporary problem, or a situation that someone can eventually overcome. I’m sure this will perplex me to my last breath.

      Report Post » RJJinGadsden  
    • vadale
      Posted on September 1, 2012 at 4:40pm

      This is a bunch of goofs doing something stupid…..Don’t compare your brother to this guy……Your not alone in wishing loved ones hadn’t given up. It never really goes away.

      Report Post »  
    • Lt_Scrounge
      Posted on September 1, 2012 at 5:43pm

      Jenny, I can appreciate your situation, but understand that accidentally killing someone is a lot different than self defense. I’ve never had to kill anyone, but I have been close a few times with nothing but my bare hands. Hand I not convinced the guys who jumped me to stop resisting and surrender, I would’ve killed or maimed them and I had absolutely no feelings of remorse for hurting them. I was ANGRY at them for causing me to resort to violence. Once they initiated the violence, the outcome of that decision was wholly on them. They made the decision to act violently, they had to live with the outcome of that decision. I did not choose to start the fight, but I wasn’t going to allow them to assault me either. As a result of poor decision making, two bullies ended up 30 seconds from having the life choked out of them, another was in a fetal position on the floor (I only hit him once) and another was a hairsbreadth from having his shoulder dislocated. None of the altercations lasted more than 90 seconds. Those of us who don‘t start fights should feel no remorse or depression at the outcomes of someone else’s bad decisions. That’s why when a drunk drives off a road and kills himself, I feel bad for the family’s loss but the drunk got what he deserved.

      Report Post »  
    • BlessedONE333
      Posted on September 2, 2012 at 2:45pm

      GodsPlan

      you don‘t really know much about God’s plan.

      First – THIS WAS NOT A SUICIDE – THIS WAS A MORON WITH A GUN PLAYING AROUND ACTING LIKE A FOOL

      Secondly – I find that people who lose loved ones to suicide have this need to tell others how to deal with the possibility of depression in other people. DEPRESSION does not kill people – people kill people, and GOD ALLOWS IT. To be depressed is to be absent from the TRUTH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, JESUS AND OUR HEAVENLY FATHER. DESPAIR is being totally absent of God and His HOPE.

      Thirdly – I am sorry your family member died rather than seek the comfort of God and Jesus. But you need to deal with it and stop giving stupid advice when it’s not needed

      Report Post » BlessedONE333  
  • banjarmon
    Posted on September 1, 2012 at 12:32am

    Hold MY BEER and WATCH THIS……last words….RIP

    Report Post » banjarmon  
  • The_Almighty_Creestof
    Posted on September 1, 2012 at 12:24am

    You people are strange…if not for the russian roulette bit, you’d have done nothing but praise him for protecting his family in the past by killing THREE intruders breaking into his home.

    People seem to forget good ol’ Jon Erik Hexum (I’m sure I mis-spelled his name/s) who was a hot fashion model turned actor who KNOWINGLY shot himself in the head, because it only contained blanks…he died from injuries caused by the bullets wad fracturing his skull. Hey…it was only a .44 magnum.

    Report Post »  
    • bdandsl
      Posted on September 1, 2012 at 12:31am

      Sometimes one bad act defines you. Just human nature.

      Report Post » bdandsl  
    • WindyDualism
      Posted on September 1, 2012 at 1:56pm

      Not getting the protection of life and limb vs yo, this is cool yo watch this, at 0250 am correlation…

      Report Post »  
    • marcus_arealius
      Posted on September 1, 2012 at 3:56pm

      Stupid is sometimes fatal.. By the logic that it was OK to shoot himself in the head because it was ONLY BLANKS would be not much different from tying an M80 to your forehead and lighting it.

      ‘Oh don’t worry, it’s just a firecracker, it‘s not like a lead bullet or something dangerous’.

      The missing element in about 50% of the population is ‘Think before you act’.

      Report Post »  
  • Buckshot LeFonque
    Posted on September 1, 2012 at 12:22am

    Ding a ling a ling, and we proudly announce this year”s winner of the Darwin Award…

    Report Post »  
  • GBTVFan_Non_American_Overseas
    Posted on September 1, 2012 at 12:22am

    “Where there is a will, there is a way”

    Report Post » GBTVFan_Non_American_Overseas  
    • Buckshot LeFonque
      Posted on September 1, 2012 at 12:35am

      If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try again….

      Report Post »  
    • woodyee
      Posted on September 1, 2012 at 1:00am

      Lmao!

      Report Post » woodyee  
    • v15
      Posted on September 1, 2012 at 1:05am

      hahaha love it

      Keep the inspirational quotes coming :)

      “Magic is believing in yourself, if you can do that, you can make anything happen.”

      Report Post » v15  
  • v15
    Posted on September 1, 2012 at 12:12am

    How to Win An Argument by James Gagum:

    - Use visual aides to get the other side’s attention (this keeps the argument from becoming abstract)
    - Ignore the “a firearm is always loaded” rule (this is imperative to winning your argument)
    - Put the gun to your head and pull the trigger (reinforces that you take this issue seriously)
    - Squeeze off a live round into your head (the crux of your argument has been proved – congrats champ!)

    Report Post » v15  
  • pissantno.10
    Posted on September 1, 2012 at 12:10am

    well he still is not as good as the guy in LA trying to rob quiky shop. he tried to kill the clerk pulled the trigger 2 times and the gun did not go off. the clerk said he looked down the barrel to see what was wrong and pulled the trigger the 3rd time it worked just fine. clerk ok dumb crook dea.

    Report Post »  
  • DEFCON4
    Posted on September 1, 2012 at 12:02am

    He Pulled the trigger twice : Silence……
    The Third try I remember : http://youtu.be/lqakCa-MysE

    Report Post » DEFCON4  
  • yathink
    Posted on August 31, 2012 at 11:56pm

    You guys are sick and twisted. but I must admit I started to laugh. My god he pointed the barrel at his head? Who dose that?

    Report Post » yathink  
    • hayesstephen
      Posted on September 1, 2012 at 12:12am

      Ya think, I will tell you. People who wish to say does but thinks it spelled dose. Speaking of dose are you off your meds? Laughing at a human being who must have been living in hell and just could not take any more. I would say shame on you, but you have not the decency to feel shame. May Yahweh grant him Paradise.

      Report Post »  
    • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
      Posted on September 1, 2012 at 12:38am

      Well, he doesn’t look too smart dressed in prison orange. My guess is that he was drunk. I applaud his prevention of a break-in of his house by intruders, but you cannot fix stupid. I second the motion for he Darwin Award of the year to Mr. Gagum.

      Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
  • YallComeBack
    Posted on August 31, 2012 at 11:56pm

    Question from the back of the room…

    Ummmm.
    -Pulled the trigger THREE times?
    -He also killed three intruders previously? Could anyone be mad at him?
    -The reports only say “witnesses”. It doesn’t say who these witnesss were. Wife? “Friends.”

    Would it be too much trouble for the police to find out WHAT show they were watching in order to check that there was indeed such a suicide scene.

    Is there the sligtest possibility he was murdered?

    I don’t know anything—just asking.

    I’ll go back to what I was doing.

    Report Post »  
    • sligresda
      Posted on September 1, 2012 at 12:50pm

      i was kinda thinking the same thing, maybe murder, but if not then definitely suicide. there is no way someone who was clearly knowledgeable about guns would ever hold a gun to their head thinking nothing bad could happen. he knew.

      Report Post »  
    • Bigolfascist
      Posted on September 1, 2012 at 3:15pm

      I’ll vote for suicide. I would never point any gun at my head and pull the trigger even knowing it is unloaded. This guy pulled it three times. Might have had some issues from the shooting in which he was involved. Guy could have used some psychological help to cope.

      Report Post » Bigolfascist  
  • woodyee
    Posted on August 31, 2012 at 11:55pm

    Another “Stupid” gene removed from the pool! One small step for Man; one giant leap for Mankind! Thank you, Mr. Gagum!

    Report Post » woodyee  
  • vanderleun
    Posted on August 31, 2012 at 11:53pm

    Last Words? “Don’t laugh. You’re next.”

    Report Post »  
  • The-Monk
    Posted on August 31, 2012 at 11:51pm

    Wow, now I know what J-Zak looks like. Oops, “looked like”.

    Report Post » The-Monk  
  • TheRiflemanNextDoor
    Posted on August 31, 2012 at 11:48pm

    always inspect a firearm to see if it is loaded,,,,looks like Obama/Biden just lost another vote…

    Report Post » TheRiflemanNextDoor  
    • fammus1
      Posted on August 31, 2012 at 11:59pm

      Never point a firearm at somthing you don’t want dead.

      Report Post » fammus1  
  • Psychosis
    Posted on August 31, 2012 at 11:43pm

    darwin award recipient

    Report Post » Psychosis  
  • DAMurphy
    Posted on August 31, 2012 at 11:40pm

    Sometimes I make a mistake and wish I could just Ctrl+Z. It‘s hard to do in real life let alone when you’re dead.

    Report Post »  
    • fammus1
      Posted on August 31, 2012 at 11:57pm

      Ctrl+Z? Does that still work? Alive on a computer of course.

      Report Post » fammus1  
  • korbin
    Posted on August 31, 2012 at 11:39pm

    He is the poster child for why idiots should not own guns, any bets he was not legally the owner of said gun? Wow always clear the chamber before cleaning……Or attempting to not play Russian rullette

    Report Post »  
    • fammus1
      Posted on September 1, 2012 at 12:15am

      He killed three intruders with no charges. I assume he leagly owned the gun. More to this to come?

      Report Post » fammus1  
  • nobull14
    Posted on August 31, 2012 at 11:30pm

    As Forest Gump said Stupid is as Stupid Does

    Report Post »  
  • oldwhiteguy
    Posted on August 31, 2012 at 11:29pm

    When you pull the trigger three times, it is not a accident. The good news is he will not be charged in this shooting either and the old saying holds true. The third time is the charm!

    Report Post »  
  • wisehiney
    Posted on August 31, 2012 at 11:29pm

    OK y’all, this one is too easy. Let’s pretend something else.

    Report Post »  
  • Mr.Fitnah
    Posted on August 31, 2012 at 11:27pm

    He seemed to know what he was talking about. Im going to take his word on this.

    Report Post » Mr.Fitnah  
  • NO_MORE_OBAMA
    Posted on August 31, 2012 at 11:26pm

    3rd time is a charm.

    Report Post » NO_MORE_OBAMA  
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