LONG BEACH : Veteran in Wheelchair Kills Himself in Pawn Shop
A veteran in a wheelchair bought a handgun Wednesday at a Long Beach pawn shop, then loaded the weapon and committed suicide inside the business, police said.
The 35-year-old man, whose name was withheld until relatives could be notified, was pronounced dead at St. Mary Medical Center. The man had put a deposit on the gun March 14 at Albert Jewelry & Loan, 1032 Long Beach Blvd. He had to wait the two weeks required by law before he could pick it up, said Long Beach Police Sgt. Charles Higley.
Meanwhile, he bought ammunition for the weapon at a Big 5 Sporting Goods store down the street, Higley said.
Police found Veterans Administration benefits card in his wheelchair, and were told by a doctor that the man had tried to commit suicide three times before, Higley said.
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