Peru’s former president Alan García has died after deliberately shooting himself in the head when police tried to arrest him in connection with a multibillion-dollar Latin American corruption scandal.
“I am saddened by the death of former president Alan García,” tweeted the country’s current president, Martín Vizcarra, confirming the news. “I send my condolences to his family and loved ones.”
Earlier, García’s lawyer, Erasmo Reyna, told local media his client “took the decision to shoot himself” early on Wednesday after officers arrived at his home in the capital, Lima, to place him under preventive detention.
Peru’s interior minister, Carlos Morán, told journalists García had told police officers he was going to call his lawyer and had “shut himself in his bedroom” before a shot was heard.
The 69-year-old politician – who faced accusations of taking bribes from the Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht during his 2006-2011 presidency – was admitted to a nearby hospital soon after, at about 6.45am, suffering from a gunshot wound to the head.
Before his death was confirmed Peru’s health minister, Zulema Tomás, told reporters García was in a “very serious” condition and had suffered three heart attacks from which he had been resuscitated. A 27-strong medical team, including neurosurgeons and intensive care specialists, was fighting to save the former president’s life.
Gun, head, self, not instant. But, you know, efficiency of politicians and all that.
Not instant? Goethe wrote an entire novel on it.
If only this was the start of a fashionable craze would sweep through politicians. Note to May. It’s not necessary to resign first.
Missed his brain by about three feet, if he’s a typical politician…
General Stulpnagel managed the same feat in 1944. He was implicated in the 20July plot and tried to shoot himself, but missed. He was strung up in August, I helieve. Reafing accounts of life in The Bunker, his failure was a major discussion point for the trapped officers.
It’s a long tradition. Van Gogh died a couple of days after he shot himself. Robespierre shot himself then jumped out of a window onto some bayonets in trying (and failing) to escape the guillotine.
The Webbley service revolver is the weapon of choice in such situations. Even after drinking the bottle of scotch it’s difficult to miss your own head.
He should have taken a leaf out of the ‘Friends of the Clintons’ book,
When they get the urge to end it all, they usually shoot themselves several times just to make sure. In the body and head. From behind.
Reminds one of Admiral Villeneuve, who committed suicide with six stab woulds in the left lung and one in the heart – or maybe his understanding of physiology was as flawed as his understanding of naval warfare.
After hearing that a particularly boorish acquaintance had “put a bullet through his brain”, Noel Coward apparently commented that “he must have been a remakably good shot”.
@Kevin B
You beat me to it
BiS,
Our bastards would still be stuck on deciding on their weapon of choice, thus extending their ‘resignation’ until Hallowe’en.