Friend: Man shot himself playing Russian roulette

A friend told authorities Raymond Harrold Gage was taking a break in the heat of the day from a construction project near Potter Valley when he unexpectedly pulled out a loaded revolver and engaged in a quick game of Russian roulette.

Whatever the events leading to the Wednesday shooting in Mendocino County, the result is likely to prove fatal for Gage, a Sacramento man.

Gage, 46, is not expected to survive the gunshot wound to his head, Mendocino County sheriff’s Capt. Kurt Smallcomb said.

Gage had been staying with his friend on some property near the Mendocino-Lake county line for about three weeks, helping to construct a building of some sort, authorities said.

The two men were taking a break at about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday when the .38-caliber revolver came out and Gage reportedly shot himself, authorities said.

He was immediately unresponsive, and the friend called 911 with a cell phone, then provided what first aid he could while awaiting emergency medics, they said.

Gage was taken by REACH helicopter to an undisclosed out-of-county hospital before deputies arrived, Smallcomb said.

He was listed in critical condition Friday morning at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Smallcomb said the case remained under investigation, and, in a press release, said, “the incident is considered suspicious in nature.”

“We treat gunshot injuries as suspicious always,” he said.