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Darwin Awards
2008 Slush Pile

This item was recently submitted by a reader.
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1 shoot closes slaying case

2008 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance

1 shot closes slaying case No one was ever prosecuted for a killing during a drug deal in 1996. By ABHI RAGHUNATHAN, Times Staff Writer Published January 13, 2008

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ADVERTISEMENT

Robert Mann, 27, accidentally killed himself on April 6.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Breaking News Video

ST. PETERSBURG - Some people get away with murder. Some would say Robert Mann was one of them.

Back in 1996, he sold crack cocaine to a sometime roofer named Anthony Small. Instead of paying, Small stuffed a few pieces in his mouth and started pedaling away on a bicycle.

Mann did what dope slingers sometimes do when deals go sour. He pulled out a gun and opened fire, police said. Small, a 48-year-old man who family members say tried his best to stay out of trouble, was killed.

All the evidence pointed to Mann as the killer, police said, but there wasn't enough evidence for prosecutors to charge him with the homicide. He was arrested a few days later for shooting at someone else. He ended up doing five years on charges that included aggravated assault, firing into a vehicle, robbery and illegally carrying a gun.

He got out in 2001, but returned for a year in 2004 for grand theft auto.

He was out again in 2005.

That seemed to be the end of an unhappy story: Man killed, murderer on the loose.

* * *

Then, about 2:28 a.m. on April 6, 2007, Mann was arguing with his girlfriend over a cellphone. He threatened to break up with her, saying she shouldn't have left at him at a club.

He was outside a home in the 2800 block of 16th Avenue S, holding a mixed drink in one hand and the phone in the other. A .357 caliber revolver was tucked inside a belt at his back, along the right side of his body.

Mann, 27, dropped something, probably the drink or phone. He crouched down, so that his chest was between his legs. He looked like someone bent down, panting for breath.

Then, a bullet fired.

Turns out the revolver in his shorts had an abnormally light trigger pull. By bending down, he set it off.

The bullet entered his body through the back of his right thigh and flew out the front of his thigh. Then, because of his crouch, the bullet blasted a hole on the ride side of his chest, about 5 inches below his shoulders.

It flew up, and punched another hole as it streaked out of his back right shoulder. It kept going.

Next, the bullet entered his neck, tearing a hole shaped like a diamond. It pushed through to his brain, finally coming to a stop just beneath the crown of his head.

It had been one long, clean straight shot. Three entrance wounds, two exit wounds.

The resulting crime scene was so messy that police first wondered if someone had killed Mann. But as they examined him and spoke to those who heard just one gunshot, they realized that he had accidentally killed himself.

* * *

Even as police wrapped up their inquiry into Mann's death, the investigation in Anthony Small's murder technically remained open. A few months ago, Sgt. Mike Kovacsev, the head of St. Petersburg's homicide unit, was going through old cases when he realized that Mann, the likely culprit, was dead.

He called Small's family. They said they had heard the news, and thanked him.

Mann's family couldn't be reached for comment.

Jannie Small, 45, Anthony's sister, said Mann's death brought some closure to an open wound.

"I wish he could have been prosecuted," she said. "He just shot himself. And now it's over and done with. I wish he could have gone through the same pain and suffering we've gone through."

When asked about the bullet that killed Mann, she added: "Well, God has his time for everyone."

Times researcher Caryn Baird contributed to this report. Abhi Raghunathan can be reached at araghunathan@sptimes.com or 727 893-8472.

[

Submitted on 01/14/2008

Submitted by: Pete Wilford
Reference: St. Petersburg Times, Jan. 13, 2008

Copyright © 2008 DarwinAwards.com

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Bruce said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
People shooting themselves because of recklessness with guns is extremely common, but I think this guy is well deserving of an award since he managed so much damage with a single gunshot. Three entrance wounds & two exit wounds? Gadzooks! I don't think I've ever heard of somebody shooting themselves three times with a single bullet. Thanks, Pete!


Chip said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
Yep, top notch Award candidate there. Did himself in proud. Maybe he would also be eligible for a Guinness Record for most wounds from a self-inflicted shooting! Thanks, Pete


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