suicide of R. Budd Dwyer Full video
It was a snowy, blustery mid-morning on January 22, 1987 when R. Budd Dwyer began a press conference in the Pennsylvania Capitol Building, where he served as State Treasurer, almost to the day, for six years.
Those gathered in attendance expected the Republican to announce he was resigning from his post following a conviction of bribery for which he was to be sentenced the following day.
Instead, they were firsthand witnesses to one of the most ghastly news stories ever.
Almost 30 minutes into a speech where the 47-year-old married father of two defended himself as an innocent victim of a corrupt system, Dwyer opened an envelope from in his briefcase which revealed a .357 Magnum revolver.
No one knew what he planned to do with the gun, imploring him to put the gun down. Following several tense moments, he put the barrel in his mouth and pulled the trigger.
suicide of R. Budd Dwyer
The bullet exiting from the back of his skull had killed him instantly.
Dwyer’s death by suicide was broadcast on noon newscasts around the state and beyond. Many children saw it take place as they were home from school on a snow day.
The news media as a whole had no protocol in place to deal with such a shocking turn of events, but those who showed the complete
disturbing footage which ended with the politician slumped on the floor with blood and brain matter splattered on the wall behind him and blood pouring from his nose and mouth would see if heavily copied and traded among those who desired to see such a macabre display.