I guess it was that serious!

Man Kills Self at City Council Meeting
credits: AOL News


CLARKSVILLE, Tennessee (Oct. 5) - A business owner shot and killed himself during a city council meeting after members voted against his request to rezone his property, witnesses said.

Officer talking to witnesses in Clarksville Tenn., after a man killed himself during a council meeting.

Ronald " Bo " Ward , owner of Bo 's Barber Shop, had told the council his business would go under if he could not get his home rezoned as commercial. After the 5-7 vote Thursday night, Ward stood and walked toward the council.

"Ya'll have put me under ... I'm out of here," he said before shooting himself in the head with a small handgun.

Fire and police officials attending the meeting immediately ushered the audience of about 50 into the hallway, where several people were sobbing.

At least one police officer is always on duty during council meetings, officials said. However, visitors are not required to go through a metal detector or any other screening.

"When a gun gets whipped out like that, someone is going to get shot, but I didn't know who," Councilman Bill Summers said. "You could've been right next to him, and I don't think you could have stopped that."

Mayor Johnny Piper said Thursday's council meeting would be the last held in that room. Ward had said the rezoning would increase his property value, allowing him to secure a loan to offset debt he incurred when he expanded his shop.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
2007-10-05 02:27:16

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Lord in this case, it seems that a desperate measure called for a desperate act. I pray that peace and healing descends upon those who are affected by this tragedy in Jesus' name. amen.