Middletown police Tase man to stop second suicide attempt

A Middletown man reportedly survived a suicide attempt early Wednesday morning after police officers stopped him from shooting himself a second time

Middletown Police were dispatched to Elwood Street at about 1:40 a.m. after receiving a call from a man stating he had shot himself, according to a 911 call obtained by this news outlet.

The man was holding the gun tightly to his chest when officers arrived, according to police.

When he pulled the trigger, the gun did not fire, Middletown Police Major Scott Reeve told this news outlet.

The man then tested the gun and successfully fired two shots in the area. After that he fired a shot into his head, but remained conscious, according to police.

“He was talking to us,” Reeve said. “They (officers) were telling him to drop the gun and show his hands because he was still moving around and talking.”

MORE: Teen dies in Middletown shooting; 2 groups feuding over territory, police say

When the man reached for the gun again, an officer shocked him with a Taser, Reeve said. Officers were then able to secure the man and rush him to the hospital. The man was later transported by medical helicopter to an area hospital for treatment.

“We were able to stop him from shooting himself a second time,” Reeve said.

On Friday, police were not as successful, he said.

When officers pull up to an accident scene, a distraught driver pulled out a gun and shot and killed himself, according to Reeve.

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