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Lakeland Teen Dies Apparently Playing Russian Roulette

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By BILLY TOWNSEND | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 6, 2007

Updated: 11/06/2007 12:03 pm

LAKELAND - The investigation into a 19-year-old's death at his own hands in an apparent game of Russian roulette is continuing, the Polk sheriff's office reported.

Joshua Matthew Braggs, of Willow Wisp Drive, died Saturday of a self-inflicted gunshot wound he suffered Friday night during a small gathering of friends at a home at 3361 Mount Tabor Road, the sheriff's office reported.

The owners of the house, Albert and Lisa Johnson, were not at home at the time of shooting, but their 18-year-old son had friends over, according to sheriff's spokeswoman Donna Wood. One of the friends was Braggs.

Detectives have not yet characterized the shooting, Wood said.

Witnesses said that just before 11 p.m., Braggs produced a .38 caliber handgun and asked whether anyone wanted to play Russian roulette, Wood said. He then put the gun to his head and pulled the trigger, causing it to fire. He was rushed to Lakeland Regional Medical Center, where he died the next day.

Wood said witnesses told detectives that people at the house had been smoking marijuana prior to the shooting, but detectives found no drugs at the home, she said.

Few other details have been released.

Reporter Billy Townsend can be reached at (863) 284-1409 or wtownsend@tampatrib.com

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