Photo of James Vance, Failed Shotgun Suicide

This is an incredible photo and video of James Vance, who tried to blow his brains out with a shotgun but unfortunately was unsuccessful and survived. It seems he put the shotgun under his chin and fired upwards. He lived, but his face is seriously mangled in the worst way. If I had to get up every day and look at that in the mirror, I think I would go back and finish the job once and for all.

On December 23, 1985, just in time for the holidays, Vance and friend Ron Belknap, both seriously depressed teenagers, made a suicide pact. Then they went to the local church playground while loaded on various drugs and shot themselves in the face. Belknap luckily died, but Vance unfortunately lived, having given himself the worst Christmas present anyone could ever get.

Vance spent the next three years undergoing reconstructive surgery and treatment drug abuse and suicidal thoughts. He died in 1988 from complications of surgery and his use of methadone to try to cure himself of opiate addiction. Cause of death was methadone overdose, and it is thought that he may have successfully committed suicide.

His parents sued the rock group Judas Priest for wrongful death claiming that their song lyrics made Vance attempt suicide, but they lost the case.

In the video above, Vance sits at the scene of the suicide attempt and tells what happened on that day.

James Vance, failed shotgun suicide victim. Reconstructive surgery has been somewhat successful, but he's been left looking like a freak.