Santa Clarita Man, 22, Dies During Russian Roulette Game

A 22-year-old Santa Clarita man died after firing a bullet into his head while playing Russian roulette with a .38-caliber revolver early Saturday morning, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department reported.

Steve Sherman was found dead in his apartment on the 22600 block of Garzota Drive by sheriff’s deputies who were summoned by his friend, Mitchael Drybush, who had been playing the game with him, said Deputy John Ashley. Sherman died from a single gunshot wound fired at close range into his right temple, Ashley said. Homicide investigators said the incident was an accidental shooting.

Drybush told deputies that Sherman called him at his Canyon Country home at 2:30 a.m. and asked him to come over, Ashley said. Drybush agreed, and the two drank an “unknown amount of beer,” Ashley said.

Drybush told deputies that Sherman initiated the gunplay. Ashley said that Sherman unloaded the revolver, leaving only one round inside, and handed it to Drybush saying, “Care for one?”

Drybush took the gun, spun the cylinder, put it to his head and pulled the trigger. But the gun did not fire, Ashley said.

Drybush then returned the revolver to Sherman, who proceeded to spin again and pull the trigger, Ashley said. But again nothing happened. The two men each took several more turns with one chamber loaded, but the gun never fired, he said.

Finally, Sherman put a second bullet into the revolver and passed the weapon to Drybush. Drybush spun the chamber and pulled the trigger, with no result, Ashley said.

Sherman then took the revolver, put it to his temple, and--without spinning the chamber--pulled the trigger, firing a bullet into his head, Ashley said.

Drybush called for an ambulance. Sherman was pronounced dead at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital at 5:11 a.m., Ashley said.