Suicide of Ronnie McNutt: Difference between revisions

|maker = Ronnie Mcnutt

The '''Suicide of Ronnie McNutt''' incident took place on a live stream on Facebook, broadcasted at 9 pm on August 31, 2020. The live stream depicted a 33-year-old war veteran, Ronnie Merle McNutt (May 23, 1987 – August 31, 2020), playing his favorite game, until he shot himself in the face with a single-shot rifle and died of a self-inflicted wound while hundreds of viewers were watching. Like [[1444|other]] [[Shuaiby's Suicide|live-streams]], the footage has spread across many social media networks and forums such as [[YouTube]], Facebook, Twitter, Discord, [[TikTok]], [[4chan]], and many more. This incident caused many controversies, such as internet trolls setting up account impersonations of Ronnie, being used for fraudulent scams or as a bait-and-switch to lure viewers, and computer calls being interrupted by users displaying the video.

The live stream features 33-year-old Ronnie McNutt playing his favorite game (offscreen) while drunk and angry. He begins ranting about his job and coworkers while viewers frantically try messaging him. After a while, he gets a phone call from someone he knows (most likely his ex-girlfriend). After that, he hangs up the call and said "Hey guys! I guess that's it," and misfires himself with a hunting rifle, blowing his face completely off while his blood splatters on the camera and his brain tissues fall to the floor, while the [[Wikipedia:Samsung|Samsung]] ringtone [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQUF9M7horo Over the horizon] is played on the entire vid. The full video would stay on his bleeding corpse on the chair for a few minutes, until officers arrived at his home after someone alerted the department, only seen in the entire video.

Ronnie had recently broken up with his girlfriend<ref name="Rolling Stone">Dickson, E. (2020, September 9). [https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/facebook-tiktok-livestream-suicide-1056959/ "Why Did Facebook Keep a Man's Livestreamed Suicide Up for Hours?"]. [[wikipedia:Rolling Stone|Rolling Stone]].</ref> on the night of August 31, 2020.<ref name="BBC">Wakefield, J. (2020, September 20). [https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-54176205 "Friend Challenges Facebook Over Ronnie McNutt Suicide Video"]. [[wikipedia:BBC News|BBC News]].</ref> He sent his final message on Facebook at 7:32 p.m., with an image stating "Someone in your life needs to hear that they matter" and "that they are loved. That they have a future. Be the one to tell them. TobyMac #SpeakLife", referring to [[wikipedia:Toby McKeehan|Toby McKeehan]]'s song "[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeBv9r92VQ0 Speak Life]". His suicide happened on his live-stream on [[wikipedia:Facebook|Facebook]]<ref name="Rolling Stone" /><ref name="nypost">Steinbuch, Y. (2020, September 9). [https://nypost.com/2020/09/09/ronnie-mcnutt-shared-heartbreaking-message-before-suicide/ "Ronnie McNutt Shared Heartbreaking Message Before Suicide"]. New York Post.</ref><ref name="Mirror">Kitching, C. (2020, September 11). [https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/us-news/ronnie-mcnutt-tragic-story-man-22665676 "Tragic Story Of Ronnie McNutt Who Killed Himself On Facebook Live Stream"]. Mirror.</ref> broadcasted at 9 p.m. local time.<ref name="Mirror" /> In the live stream taking place at his home in New Albany, Mississippi, Ronnie appeared very drunk and depressed.<ref name="mirror">Kitching, C. (2020, September 9). [https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/us-news/ronnie-mcnutt-man-who-live-22654249 "Man Who Live-streamed His Own Suicide Left Tragic Last Post On Facebook"]. ''Mirror.co.uk''.</ref> There were over 200 viewers<ref name="BBC" /> who advised him to get help<ref name="Mirror" />, which Ronnie ignored. Moments before committing suicide, Ronnie received a phone call from someone he knows, whether his ex-girlfriend or his mother. At 10:30 p.m.<ref name="Forbes">McEvoy, J. (2020, September 9). [https://www.forbes.com/sites/jemimamcevoy/2020/09/09/friend-of-ronnie-mcnutt-whose-livestreamed-suicide-went-viral-says-facebook-couldve-stopped-it/ "Friend Of Ronnie McNutt, Whose Livestreamed Suicide Went Viral, Says Facebook Could’ve Stopped It"]. [[wikipedia:Forbes|Forbes]].</ref> Ronnie pointed the rifle under his chin and fired, blowing off his face completely. The New Albany Police Department was immediately alerted by his friends;<ref name="Rolling Stone" /> however, emergency responders did not arrive at his house until after his death. Facebook stated that this "''completed broadcast was on the platform for 2 hours and 41 minutes''".<ref name="heavy">Warnock, C. (2020, September 8). [https://heavy.com/news/2020/09/ronnie-mcnutt-facebook-video/ "Ronnie McNutt’s Friend Speaks Out About Facebook Suicide Video"]. Heavy.</ref>

Steen reported most comments on the live stream as "harassment" to Facebook. Facebook however claimed they dismissed his reports because he was not an account holder. Similarly, trolls were also setting up accounts to impersonate Ronnie on platforms.<ref name="BBC" /><ref name="nypost" /><ref name="mirror" /> Ronnie's mother, Elaine McNutt, also stated that there were many false GoFundMe pages about Ronnie Mcnutt appearing, and none of them "are legitimate!".<ref>Warnock, C. (2020, September 7). [https://heavy.com/news/2020/09/ronnie-mcnutt-death-live-stream/ "Ronnie McNutt: Man Dies By Suicide On Facebook Live Stream]. Heavy.com.</ref>

<u>NOTE</u>: The following video contains extremely [[graphic content]]!