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Suicide is a global crisis often viewed as a modern issue. Despite the increasing suicide rates in the United States, which are predicted to rise in developing countries as well, people have been ending their lives for as long as we’ve had the means and understanding to do so. It’s a deeply sorrowful event, particularly for the loved ones left behind, who are left with countless questions, anxiety, and fear. Suicide forces us to confront our own mortality and the fragility of our mental health—how vulnerable are we to depression or a life event that could leave us feeling as if there is nothing left to live for?
When it comes to suicide, survival is never guaranteed, even with seemingly certain methods. For every fatality, there are 25 suicide attempts, and those who survive often face lasting consequences. Although many assume a gunshot to the head will lead to a fatal outcome, it is far from assured. Many people have survived such attempts, and here are ten remarkable stories of individuals who lived through a gunshot wound to the head.
10. Oleg Shegeda
In January 2018, Svetlana Shedega was found dead from gunshot wounds, while Oleg Shegeda was discovered in critical condition in St. Louis, Missouri. Neighbors alerted the police after hearing gunshots from the apartment. Upon arriving, authorities found Svetlana's body on the floor with multiple gunshot wounds and Oleg holding a gun with a single gunshot wound to himself.
The police transported Oleg to the hospital for treatment of his injuries. Svetlana was 67 at the time of her death, and the couple had lived together in the apartment for 20 years. A week later, Oleg Shedega was formally charged with the murder of Svetlana Shedega.
9. Cameron Underwood
Cameron Underwood, at 26 years old, received a new face in 2018 after a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head in 2016. He was incredibly fortunate, as his facial reconstruction took place relatively quickly with surgery. Many patients face much longer waiting periods for face transplants, which can lead to significant emotional trauma, including the depression that stems from social judgment and feelings of guilt.
After attempting to end his life with a gun on June 26, 2016, Cameron spent months in the hospital. The gunshot destroyed most of his jaw, all but one of his teeth, and left the lower half of his face severely damaged. He was sustained by tubes and his eyes were the only part of him left uncovered. Like many who attempt suicide, Cameron struggled with intense depression and alcoholism, which only worsened his situation. However, he was given a second chance at life when doctors successfully reconstructed his face, providing him with a new jaw, teeth, and restoring everything lost in the traumatic event.
Today, Cameron is open about his journey and how it has changed him completely. In some cases, a failed suicide attempt can lead individuals to rediscover a renewed sense of gratitude for life.
8. Daniel Von Bargen
It's difficult for many to comprehend why someone like Daniel von Bargen, a former actor known for his roles in the popular television show Seinfeld and the film Super Troopers, would attempt suicide. Yet, in 2012, this Hollywood figure shocked many by turning a gun on himself and pulling the trigger.
Immediately after raising the gun to his temple and pulling the trigger, 911 operators received a call from a man reporting a shooting—surprisingly, it was Daniel von Bargen who placed the call, just moments after he had shot himself. Even more astonishing, von Bargen remained conscious and was able to engage in a coherent conversation with the operator while waiting for emergency responders.
The actor explained to the operator that he had been battling diabetes for years and was scheduled to undergo multiple toe amputations, but he couldn’t bring himself to face the procedure. He said, “I’ve shot myself in the head… and I need help.” When asked for more details, he revealed he had shot himself in the temple. Sadly, Daniel von Bargen passed away in 2015 due to complications related to his diabetes.
7. David Parnell
David Parnell, who has appeared on radio shows and television and frequently speaks to live audiences, is an unexpected survivor of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He is married with seven children and travels the world sharing his story. In 2003, after battling a 23-year history of drug abuse, David’s wife Amy left him, causing his world to crumble.
David raised his SKS assault rifle, placed it beneath his chin, and pulled the trigger. However, instead of the bullet passing through his brain and exiting the top of his skull, instantly ending his life as planned, the bullet exited through the front of his skull, between his eyes, causing almost every bone in his face to shatter. Despite being high on meth, David remained conscious. He sat on the floor while Amy called emergency services, holding the two halves of his split head together, and was able to apologize for his actions as he spoke.
This wasn’t David’s first suicide attempt, but it was his last. Three years earlier, David had attempted to hang himself, but after losing consciousness, someone found him and cut him down in time. Now, David shares his story, warning about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse. He has been featured on websites, in interviews, and at public speaking events around the world, hoping to prevent others from making the same tragic choices and saving lives from suffering as he did—or worse.
6. Katie Stubblefield
At just 18 years old, Katie Stubblefield's life took a dramatic turn after her boyfriend broke up with her in 2015. In response, Katie took a gun, placed it to her face, and pulled the trigger. The blast caused extensive damage to her face, from her mouth and nose to her sinus cavities and eyes. Like Cameron Underwood, Katie would eventually receive a face transplant, thanks to the dedicated efforts of surgeons. The same surgeon who worked on Cameron also worked on Katie.
Katie attempted to end her life by using her brother Robert's hunting rifle, but the shot that was meant to take her life left her disfigured instead. The aftermath was captured in photos that reveal the extent of the damage. Ultimately, Katie underwent surgery to receive a new face, though she faced the challenging process of adjusting back to some semblance of a normal life. Her case is particularly fortunate, as only 40 procedures like hers had been performed by the time hers took place, and among all those treated, Katie's facial injuries were the most severe. This is a true example of the miracles of modern medicine.
5. Victor Sibson
Victor Sibson’s story is one of the most tragic survival tales. At just 21 years old, after a night of drinking on April 19, 2017, he shot himself in the head. Tragically, his 22-year-old girlfriend, Brittany-Mae Haag, was there and tried to intervene, but he managed to fire the gun anyway. The bullet not only passed through his head but also struck Brittany-Mae in the chest after entering beneath her raised hand and through her armpit.
When the police and paramedics arrived, they found both individuals on the floor, critically injured with bullet wounds. Victor had a fatal exit wound at the top of his head, and both were on the verge of death. Although medical teams managed to save Victor’s life, Brittany-Mae succumbed to her internal injuries and, with her final breaths, confirmed that Victor had intentionally shot himself and that she had been hit by accident.
Victor Sibson was charged in connection with the death of Brittany-Mae Haag. He turned himself in to face the charges and was formally accused of murder in the second degree.
4. Bed Bath & Beyond
In 2011, a man attempted to take his own life by shooting himself in the head in the public parking lot of a Bed Bath & Beyond in Portsmouth, Maine. When police first arrived, they believed someone else was responsible for the shooting. However, after further investigation, it became clear that the man had attempted suicide in a highly public place—and failed.
He was rushed to the hospital and managed to survive. The reasons behind his choice of the Bed Bath & Beyond parking lot remain unclear, but it certainly stands out as one of the most unusual locations for such an attempt.
3. Erik Kramer
Erik Kramer, a former NFL football player who played for the Atlanta Falcons, Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears, and San Diego Chargers in the United States and the Calgary Stampeders in Canada, would also attempt suicide, further illustrating that fame, wealth, and status don't always shield individuals from the overwhelming struggles that can sometimes drive them to such drastic measures.
In 2015, Kramer meticulously planned his suicide, plagued by deep depression following the recent overdose death of his son. He wrote a note to his loved ones and dropped off his children before shooting himself in the head. However, in a miraculous turn of events, Erik Kramer survived.
When authorities and paramedics arrived, they found Kramer with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound and transported him to the hospital. Erik Kramer went on to share his journey of depression and survival, speaking openly about his dark days, suicide attempt, and the hope he found thereafter through interviews and public speaking.
2. Cody Mark Patrick
Cody Mark Patrick, an American tourist in Cambodia, attempted suicide in 2008 while traveling abroad. Police discovered drugs in his hotel room, although they did not specify the type. This occurred after Patrick visited a shooting range in the Ang Snuol district, Kandal province.
At 33 years old, Patrick entered the gun range, purchased ten bullets, fired seven, and shot himself in the head with the eighth round. He was treated at a hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, where he survived. As attempted suicide is not a crime in Cambodia, Patrick did not face legal charges for his actions. In contrast, attempting suicide is criminalized in certain countries like Nigeria.
1. Lance Paulson
Over a year would pass before Lance Paulson faced trial for the murder of his long-time friend, Steve Gagnon, who was 50 years old when he was killed in April 2017 in El Cerrito, California, a city near the San Francisco Bay.
A financial dispute triggered the deadly event, during which Paulson, then 51, shot Gagnon before attempting to take his own life. Rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, Paulson's survival was initially uncertain. He spent a full month recovering, and within 72 hours of his arrest, legal charges were formally brought against him in accordance with state law.
The district attorney argued that the motive for both the murder and the suicide attempt stemmed from a $20,000 debt, a claim supported by witness testimonies and Paulson’s own confession. In the end, two lives were destroyed over money.
