Indiana man kills himself in movie theater after being carded

**thequeenofsorrow** · October 13th, 2009, 03:31 PM

MUNCIE, Ind. -- A 21-year-old military veteran fatally shot himself inside a central Indiana movie theater shortly after he argued with employees over being asked to produce ID to see an R-rated film, police said.

Muncie police said no one else was hurt at the theater, including the man's two brothers, a friend and eight others attending the horror comedy "Zombieland."

Sgt. Mike Engle told The Star Press that officers were called to the theater about 10:30 p.m. Monday, some 20 minutes into the film's run.

Engle said that witnesses indicated that the man told theater workers he had killed 18 people while in the military.

Engle said the man had been drinking and that one of his companions gave him the handgun just before he shot himself in the head.

http://www.theindychannel.com/news/21280462/detail.html

What the fuckin fuck???

**AngelFire** · October 13th, 2009, 03:35 PM

21-year-old military veteran & he had killed 18 people while in the military

There are your reasons...He physically came back from the war, but he never left the battle field. I totally believe this, I have seen this too many times

**Dakota Valkyrie** · October 13th, 2009, 04:19 PM

The young military veteran who shot and killed himself in a Muncie movie theater late Monday has been identified as Jacob W. Sexton, 21, of Farmland.

Sexton was on leave from serving in the Afghanistan war, but was set to return, according to the coroner's office.
[...]

Witnesses reported hearing a loud pop, then were further startled to hear the victim's companions scream over what they had just witnessed, with one of the young men beating on a wall in anguish.

Sexton died of a gunshot wound in the head. No one else was injured, according to police.

Engle said one of the other men was the owner of the handgun involved, and had handed it to the shooting victim, at his request, just before the fatal shot was fired.

Police believe at least three of the young men, including Sexton had been drinking before going to the theater.

http://www.thestarpress.com/apps/pbc...EWS06/91013002

Despite the situation, I'm thinking this had more to do with him being drunk and stupid with a gun in a theater.

From the comments there:

I knew Jake personally, and I can't say that I believe he would do something like this on purpose. Although he had been exposed to the violence of war, I don't believe his death was the result of his experiences. Even if he had wanted to hurt himself, he would never want to do it in front of his younger brothers and best friend. He had been drinking, and was simply fooling around in a theater when this horrible event happened. Jake was very personable, fun-loving, and cared sincerely for his family. My heart goes out to all those who are involved. God Bless.

This article made one mistake. Jacob was serving in Afghanistan, not Iraq. (they corrected it) I know because he was one of my soldiers. He was a remarkable young man, energetic and cheerful, the last person you would have expected this to happen to.

I just received this terrible news hours ago, and in a half-hour our commander will be informing the rest of his company of Jacob's passing. Our soldiers will certainly be devastated to hear this news, and they will most likely come across this article while trying to make sense of things. Please bear this in mind before posting your opinion online: that there are soldiers overseas for whom this news is going to hit home, hard on a very real and personal level.

RIP SPC Sexton.

Shadow Warriors.

I did not know this young man, how ever my husband is in Afghanistan serving on his third tour since 911 and he was serving with SPC. Sexton. When I got the call from my husband my heart broke & tears fell he said to me "Mama I lost one of my kids last night, he was home on leave and was shot." "He was a good kid and a hell of a soldier I was proud to serve with him." To those of you who want to critisize and make this a political thing about gun control, & how wrong this war is. I say to you open your eyes it is not about politics & gun control it is about respecting the sacrifices these men and women make for you to have you over rated itiotic oppinions. It is because of men and women like SPC Sexton you have the fredom to your opinion and if you want to ccritisize some one critisize your self for not showing this man and his family some compassion & respect they deserve at their time of grief and you should be thanking him for his service to his country.

Not everything that happens to our soldiers is related to PTSD problems. Nothing in the descriptions of those that know him points that way.

He was a man of valor for our country... and not immune to being a stupid 21-year-old.

**Pennie** · October 13th, 2009, 04:23 PM

He obviously had some deep issues.

At least he shot himself instead of innocent people just trying to watch a movie.

**Dakota Valkyrie** · October 13th, 2009, 04:32 PM

And maybe he was a drunk goofing off with a gun and accidentally shot himself.

**Marv** · October 13th, 2009, 05:28 PM

this is unbelievably tragic.

He sounds like a lovely young man from the descriptions given by those who knew him.

The guy who was stupid enough to be carrying the gun around while they were all drinking, and stupid (drunk) enough to hand it to Jake will never get over this.

My heart goes out to all involved.

**sleepinwithangels** · October 13th, 2009, 05:31 PM

I hafta agree with DV on this one..

It just doesnt make sense why he would choose to do it in a crowded movie Theatre with his friend and Brothers around..

i think he was drunk and acting foolish and an accident occured

Who carries a handgun to the theatre anyways?

Im Sorry I wasn't even going to comment but it was bothering me so I just had to say

i Dont like this:

At least he shot himself instead of innocent people just trying to watch a movie.

This obviously wasn't some crazed homocidal maniac...there's two options to this story..the one that makes the most sense is that he was drunk and foolish and a tragic accident happened...the other is that he had some serious issues from being in that hell hole..I have seen it firsthand and heard about from someone who's seen it first hand and PTSD can be a damning Disorder...but please speak with respect about this man..he was a hero no matter how he died.

**RaVen Blackehart** · October 13th, 2009, 06:09 PM

I was of the opinion that weapon safety was part of basic training.

**sleepinwithangels** · October 13th, 2009, 06:15 PM

it sure is Raven..but A. this guy is a Specialist so he's not trained in the use of a handgun only an M16 and then very shortly on larger weapons (S.A.W, AT4, etc.) and B. this guy was drunk....

**Pete Bondurant** · October 13th, 2009, 06:19 PM

The most tragic aspect of this case is that he died going to see a Woody Harrelson film.

I could understand someone taking their life after seeing this film...but before?

**Morbid** · October 13th, 2009, 06:25 PM

I front paged this one. It looks as if the guy committed suicide. The asking for the gun, loading a bullet in it, moving a friend out of the way. Soldier or not, if he was upset enough to blow his brains out in front of his siblings in a public place - then we really should be thankful that was all he did. I respect what he has done for this country and all that - but still - it could have been a lot worse.