Air Force member fatally shoots himself in the head at the Reflecting Pool near Lincoln Memorial
A U.S. Air Force serviceman struggling with depression and reeling from a breakup has died after shooting himself in the head near the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and being airlifted to a hospital on Monday.
The incident took place at around 7:25 p.m. The U.S. Park Police confirmed the shooting, which is now being investigated by the D.C. Metropolitan Police.
The victim, identified by the police as 31-year-old Kenneth Omar Santiago, was found suffering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head on the steps leading to the Reflecting Pool.
Air Force member Kenneth Omar Santiago, 31, shot himself in the head on the steps leading to Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Monday night. He was pronounced dead hours later
He was described as wearing a green T-shirt with an American flag design. Witnesses told The Washington Post that a gun was found nearby and later removed by police.
Two nurses who happened to be in the area attempted to administer CPR to the shooting victim.
Video showed a medical helicopter landing on the Mall to evacuate Santiago, who was then transported to a hospital for treatment.
A spokesperson for the D.C. Metro Police told DailyMail.com in an email that Santiago succumbed to his injuries just before 1:20 a.m. on Tuesday.
A medical helicopter landed on the Mall at around 7.30pm to airlift Santiago, who was found suffering from a gunshot wound. A gun was recovered from the scene
Witnesses reported seeing him dressed in a green shirt with an American flag design
Santiago was flown to an area hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries early Tuesday
‘This is currently a death investigation, preliminarily an apparent suicide with a self-inflicted gunshot wound,’ wrote Brianna Burch, a public affairs specialist for the police.
According to Santiago’s recent social media posts, he had served in the U.S. Air Force for more than 12 years. His current rank was technical sergeant.
Just hours before his death, Santiago took to his Facebook page and wrote a detailed suicide note, which was accompanied by a slideshow of photos showing the Air Force serviceman with his family and friends.
‘Nobody ever knows when their time will come,’ he wrote.
‘Even less, ever get to choose that moment. Life always has ups and downs, sometimes you don’t always come out on top. With a heavy heart, If you’re reading this, its because my time has come to an end at my own hands. (Not a joke) this is the last message to my friends and family.’
Santiago (right) had served in the US Force for more than 12 years
Hours before his death, Santiago posted a suicide note on his Facebook page. He blamed his decision to end his life on his chronic depression and a recent breakup
A day before his tragic death, Santiago shared this photo on Instagram and wrote in the caption: ‘ever life has a measure of hidden sorrow
Santiago cited his chronic depression, a recent split from his fiancée, career setbacks and pervasive loneliness as the main reasons behind his decision to take his own life.
Santiago shared this quote from Michael B Jordan in his Instagram Stories
‘For a long time (years) Ive [sic] known I would take my own life,’ he wrote. ‘When [my fiancée] and I split, life changed for me.’
He added: ‘It was a sickness of the mind that defeated me. Throughout my life I heard how much of a coward move it is to kill yourself. I would argue it took tremendous courage to pull the trigger, it’s a scary process.’
Santiago then addressed his loved ones individually, including his mother, younger sister and a host of friends.
To his former fiancée he wrote, in part: ‘I just couldn’t move on with life if you weren’t part of it. A life of emptiness is an eternity of suffering for me.’
Santiago asked the US Air Force to have him laid to rest in the Arlington National Cemetery.
DailyMail.com reached out to the Air Force seeking comment on Santiago’s death and was awaiting a reply.
For confidential support, call the National Suicide Prevention Line at 1-800-273-8255
