A game of Russian roulette ended with the death of a Southern California teenager, who shot himself in the head early Monday, authorities said.

The 17-year-old boy fatally shot himself inside an apartment in the West Carson community, an unincorporated area near Torrance, just after midnight, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

The potentially lethal game is typically played by putting a single bullet into a revolver, spinning the cylinder and then placing the muzzle of the gun against one’s temple.

Authorities said the teenager pulled out a .38 Special revolver and said he was going to play Russian roulette in his bedroom.


After his two cousins pleaded for him “not to do it,” he held the gun to his head and shot himself one time, said Deputy Juanita Navarro-Suarez.

The teen was pronounced dead at a hospital. His death was ruled an accident, she said.

He lived with his older brother and sister-in-law.

Details about how the teen obtained the weapon and whom it belonged to are under investigation. The handgun was recovered in the apartment in the 900 block of West Carson Street.


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