SIMI VALLEY : Man Takes His Life by Russian Roulette

A Simi Valley man who had been drinking and fighting with his girlfriend shot and killed himself while playing a game of Russian roulette in front of her, police said Tuesday.

Gary Lee Sullivan, 40, was pronounced dead at his residence in the 6300 block of Dana Avenue at 3:45 p.m. Saturday, Simi Valley Police Lt. Neal Rein said.

Sullivan’s girlfriend, Diane Chirigotis, 36, told police that the two had been drinking when they started arguing, Rein said.

Sullivan then put a .357 magnum pistol up to his head and said, “I’m going to play the game and pull the trigger,” Rein said.

But the gun did not go off, Chirigotis told police. She tried unsuccessfully to wrest the weapon from Sullivan.

Again, Sullivan put the gun to his head and pulled the trigger, killing himself, Rein said. Chirigotis told police that Sullivan had played Russian roulette in the past. Police were initially unable to determine whether the bullet wound was self-inflicted or indicated a homicide.

But the Ventura County coroner’s office, studying the bullet’s trajectory, determined that the wound was indeed self-inflicted, Rein said.