Budd Dwyer Suicide Video Footage

Budd Dwyer Suicide - Death Picture

Budd Dwyer Suicide took place during press conference in front of many people and TV cameras. Not being able to handle his corruption and conviction charges, Budd Dwyer pulled out a .357 magnum hand gun from a paper bag, scaring present media representatives but asked them to calm down or else someone would get hurt. The rest went down very quickly. Budd Dwyer committed swift suicide by putting the loaded gun in his mouth and pulling the trigger immediately. The shot took his life as he slid down leaning against the wall, while the camera zooms in to capture the footage of loads of blood spewing out of his nose and mouth. Budd Dwyer death was recorded in real time and below is the original, uncut video footage of it.

R. Budd Dwyer was actually a successful politician. He was intelligent, started out as a school teacher who loved his wife and kids. The political career became his nightmare and eventually cost his life as he committed suicide on live TV.

As he speaks his last words before he shoots a bullet in his head, Budd Dwyer sounds like a man who simply got pushed on the edge, not quite like an emo kid who likes to cut, talks about death a lot and wants to die by committing suicide. Bud Dwyer wanted to live, but had no other choice but to take his own life.

The exact truth behind Budd Dwyer Suicide may never be known. He took it with him to his grave. He was obviously troubled, maybe confused, and hopeless. He worked hard to achieve something in politics and was about to lose it all due to accusations of corruption.

The bio of Robert “Budd” Dwyer is simple. He was born on November 21, 1939 and became a treasurer for the state of Pennsylvania. Televised press conference during which he committed suicide took place on January 22, 1987 at the state capitol in Harrisburg. Members of media gathered around expecting his to resign form office of treasurer, but instead they saw him put a revolver in his mouth and shoot himself to death.

To the last second of his life, Budd Dwyer claim to be innocent and an honest man. He was facing a up to 55 years in prison and an additional $300,000 fine as he was convicted of receiving kickbacks.

By killing himself before he was released form office, Budd Dwyer secured full survivor benefits for his family – over $1.28 million. Before he pulled the revolver form the envelope, he left his wife a suicide note.

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Posted by admin on July 3, 2008 in Suicide

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113 Responses to “Budd Dwyer Suicide Video Footage”


  1. Simone says:

    OMG! That has to be one of the freakiest things I’ve ever seen! I was about 17 or 18 when this happened, but I don’t remember hearing anything about it.

  2. Jenny says:

    How very sad. I feel very sorry for Mr Dwyer and his family. It was a terrible situation.
    On another note, it was almost fascinating to watch a suicide (as sick as that sounds), it never occured to me blood would come pouring out of someones nose like that.
    I think this video is both tragic and interesting.

  3. slowburn says:

    that cameraman certainly had nerves of steel

  4. Roc says:

    ewe i hate that video

  5. Sarahcat says:

    I’ve watched this sad video many,many times(Its almost like an addiction watching this) and each time I watch it, I find new things being said each time.(yes I know I’m weird. I was 11 when this happened, and I am now just finding this…

  6. Nick says:

    I’m glad Jenny said that it was “fascinating.” That was my exact sentiment. I knew the Filter song was about a politician, but I did not know who, nor did I have a strong desire to learn. I came across his name completely by accident. I like to WikiPedia a lot of stuff, and I was doing just that. I started off while watching an episode of the Simpsons and came across that. I was on Norm MacDonalds WikiPedia and his name was on Norm’s profile, so I started reading up on him. For a couple of days I decided not to watch the video, but it was eating at me and I had to watch it. I couldn’t describe the need to see it. What is it about a car wreck that makes us stop and stare? When watching NASCAR the most replays over and over again are of car crashes. Hockeys most shown replays are fights. Boxing and MMA is huge, as is wrestling to a lesser extent. Although choreographed, it is still violent nonetheless. We watch television shows and news reports with explicit violence, and on top of that we fork over our money to go to the movies to watch the same thing. It “entertains” us. Why is that? I hope I’m not coming off pompous, I watch the same gory shows and movies as anybody else, but what is it about violence that attracts and “entertains” us? I don’t understand why we are drawn to this. I am currently in school for journalism but I am now thinking about doubling up and studying psychology. Why is our brain, besides the overly simplistic human curiousity, drawn to this? As Jenny said, it is simply fascinating.

  7. Kyle says:

    Listen to the song “Hey man, man nice shot!” by the band filter.. it is based on this event

  8. Donald says:

    Man that some creepy as shit man

  9. shocked says:

    fuck! thanks alot of blood poring out didnt expect that…im shocked

  10. Bud Lydon says:

    How horrible for his family…why would he leave for them this legacy….?

  11. Keri says:

    OMG I watched this when I was 6 and it was haunting then and it is still haunting now I was at my aunts house after her mom Died and me and my cousins were watching tv when the Press conference came on there was no time to change the channel

  12. thissiteisgay says:

    wow at 1:03 he makes a like laughing noise and closes his eyes for the last time in his life

  13. Mick says:

    Very sad. And then we find out that the other guy who was sentenced only got a year. Perhaps he may have gotten a year at sentencing. Terrible tragedy

  14. Chris says:

    that was totally fucking rad!

  15. Bluelight Spike says:

    I find interesting this video…
    I actually felt some of the sadness that man felt when he was about to kill himself.
    I guess some troubles just seem so pitch dark…
    I hope he’s on a better place.
    I find interesting, that it actually penetrated the respiratory canal, (The canal that conects nose and lungs) blood trhu nose is not common on this kind of suicides…

    May he rest in a better place.

  16. AwesomeFace says:

    I was surprised by the amount of blood that poured from his nose… pretty neat.

  17. Not Impressed says:

    Budd was a good man. Not many ppl. can secure full survivor benefits for his family – over $1.28 million.

  18. EJ says:

    This is the coolest thing ive ever seen

  19. paul says:

    I think this man was a fuckin soldier. He secured benifits for his family and showed the people that he bealived were wrongly sentencing him, that h plays by his own rules.

  20. p2ppuffer2 says:

    well he thought that shit all the way out and took his self out! bye bye there buddy! (thanks for the fuckin blood stain and shit spot asshole!)

  21. Boner says:

    Awesome, this is badass

  22. originalCoburn says:

    yes….that was cool. who knows if the filter song is really about this event or cobain’s. the song’s lyrics make sense when placed in cobain’s situation, but not so much dwyer’s. whatever…still badass

  23. hey man says:

    nice shot

  24. Cage says:

    cant belivee some ppl enjoyed this…i do find it interesting but not in a good way, it was just interesting to see live footage of this and other stuff because the media sugarcoats stuff and this shows you what the world really is like…

  25. Stemmer says:

    WOW! I never knew anything about this until I came across it on the net. I’ve been reading about the situation all night…quite interesting! Even more interesting is how Filters song is about Dwyer. Again….WOW

  26. BARudy1794 says:

    Man….Call a doctor, and ambulance, and the police? I think they better call somebody with a mop! What a mess! I wish there was more of the video of the aftermath.

  27. LongliveGeorgeBest says:

    that is the most shocking video ive ever seen.

    Its amazing the damage a bullet can do to the human body. The blood pouring outta budd’s nose is horrific!

    The guy above got it right – police fire and ambulance arent going to be much use, a janitor with a mop would be more appropriate! I know its not something to laugh about but you have to or this kind of thing would drive you mad… one minute hes there handing out notes… 1 second later hes in a bloody mess on the carpet with what looks like a hosepipe spraying blood outta his nose! christ!

  28. Sherlok says:

    i take attention 2 one thing.
    after gunshot to head he was still alive 5-9 seconds.

  29. Sarah says:

    I agree with you Sherlok, when he crumpled to the ground, you can see him breathing for a little bit

  30. dave says:

    Apparently the shot ruptured his nasal cavity and thats why the blood came out his nose. The heart can go on beating for quite awhile, possibly because that part of the brain may not have been damaged. Also, the brain has a large amount of blood flowing through it because it is the most important organ in the body.

  31. Sarah says:

    I finally heard him say “Stand Back” right before he killed himself..also I can see him breathing, if you watch closley you can see his shoulders move down

  32. JoHn says:

    the poor guy eh? ahh well,, lest all move on and b happy:)

  33. "Riza" says:

    alright so. The first time i actually heard about this guy I was looking at the “Chris Benoit Double Murder Suicide” case on Wikipedia. Then i went to see a list of people who comitted Suicide, wich surprisingly was alot, A Few was Seppuku. anyway, I found him and idk why but i clicked him and went to youtube with it since i read it was on “National TV” he had 55 years in jail and a $300,000 bail For something he didnt do apparently, as he claimed. The letter for his wife was A Suicide Note(Wich I want to read ever so badly). Well, Thats all i know right now. Might make a school report on it. haha. It’ll be a good one since i already know so much from one youtube video.

  34. "Riza" says:

    OH and just another thing..Yeah, whats a ambulance,a fire dude,and a policeman gonna do? Get a boddy bag, drag his ass to the nerist cemetary, dig a ditch, and throw him in it, then burry him, Put a big rock and spray paint on it “Robert “Budd” Dwyer; Killed Him Self On National TV and scared hundres of tiny possible children who were watching it” haha….yeah death isnt really a big deal for me, especally suicide, I’ll joke about it for months, no, years.

  35. blk says:

    right after he kills himself i almost looks like hes in alot of pain and like hes scared i know duh of course it hurts but……..

  36. Bud Lives says:

    What a hoax! This thing was all staged and the audience was in on it. As Treasurer, Bud had access to the funds to stage this whole thing. He’s probably drinking Mai Tais on some beach somewhere. Give it up, Bud, you big bullshitter you!

  37. adder says:

    HEY MAN NICE SHOT

  38. Roabe says:

    “Please leave the room if this may offend you.” “This will hurt someone.” The man acted professionally until the very end.

    Normally in these situations, the suicial person would be shouting and cussing people out before pulling the trigger.

  39. fannyhead says:

    wadddupppp lol i luv the guy in the backfround whos lik e’oh shit’ ‘oh fuck’ ‘oh no he pulled the triger’ its fuckin funny why did this guy even kill himself hess gt a family and kidss.wtta dikfacee. he couldve had sex with his wife that niight or hooked up with a 13 yr old asian prostotute.

  40. OAKLAND BAY AREA says:

    THIS IS ALL BAD WOW

  41. craig says:

    I remember hearing about this when it happenned.
    I must’ve been about 20 or so and in college at the time.
    You can see that the guy is still alive for a short time
    after he collapses and falls to the floor.
    If you look closely you can see his eyes looking about
    as if he is trying to assess his surroundings.
    Then his shoulders sink down and he slumps over –
    finally dead at last.
    I always thought you die instantly from a head shot
    like that.
    Whew, what a way to check out.
    And on national tv yet.

  42. Robert says:

    Disturbing, i think thats the word that best suits the lack of personal emotion here. I watch it but its almost as though its just a movie and not a shot of a real person dying. I wonder how many of us are so desensitized by modern entertainment that we watch this and fail to see the human connection. I cannt seem to wrap my mind around the concept. I do feel for the family and their loss, but i can see also how a man could feel the need to go so far as to protect his family when no other options seem apparent. I think he planned it to the end, though why he chose a televised ending is beyond me. It would seem he had a message to pass on before he went, but in an excited state just before the trigger, i think he did it just so he wouldnt change his mind or be stopped by anyone else. So the last thought is lost on the lips of the dead.

  43. matt says:

    opie and anthony told me about it. lil jimmmy loves him

  44. ZophieZombie14 says:

    ¬¬ he laughted?
    or wtf was that?
    id like to know what did his suicide note says.
    his face was… so little destroyedD;

  45. leo says:

    sangriento…

  46. FireGirl24 says:

    Headshots bleed alot. The surrounding people were fortunate the bullet didn’t blow out an exit wound, thus blowing out a portion of skull and generally brain matter also. It does look like there was some damage to the top of his head, but it could have been much worse. None of us is sick for looking at this sort of thing – it is human nature to look at a ‘train wreck’. Sick would be becoming sexually aroused by it. It was his choice, but it is still very unfortunate.

  47. James says:

    like a broken sink

  48. TheOni says:

    Happened a year before I was born. I find it very interesting and everything that came about because of it. The blood… it’s definitely shocking, but at the same time, he just blasted a hole in his head. :/ Very tragic ending.

  49. Breanna says:

    That’s a lot of blood…

  50. Cole says:

    wow thats weird how all the blood came out like that

  51. ciccio says:

    LOl

  52. Jill from WIsconsin says:

    ive done that before. it doesnt hurt

  53. jw says:

    i’m from pa.. i was 14 when this happened and watched it live..

  54. j4392 says:

    i think the injury ontop of his head was from him hitting his head on the desk as he was falling not from the bullet….really weird to see some thing like this but all so really interesting

  55. craig says:

    I think offing yourself on national tv is far from cool.
    Though I suppose he had his reasons.
    Probably to insure that his $1.2 mil. survivor plan would
    become payable to his family upon proof of death.
    As for his head damage that was likely the result of
    the gunshot itself.
    In the moment after the shot you can see his head
    elongate to like an egg shape for just an instant.
    Likely the result of the shockwave created by the gunshot
    (you can see this best on freeze frame).
    This would have created cracks throughout his skull even
    before he hit the desk.
    When he hit the floor this caused bleeding thru the
    cranium and sinus cavities.
    Very gory in the end but effective nontheless.
    I don’t think I’d have the nerve to pull a stunt like that.

  56. matthew says:

    i bet he planned it out.
    so that there was more blood.

  57. Brenden says:

    A band named Filter made a song dedicated to him. They were actually kind of making fun of him. It’s called “hey man, nice shot”

  58. HollowSoul_ZERO says:

    i love our species man blow brains out and guy tells camera man keep filming its freaky how calm he is before kills himself why on tv YOU HAVE KIDS i watch this video and think “wow what if his kids had seen this” what a dumbass

  59. Koja says:

    am i the only one who laughed there ass off watching this?
    im just saying the way he tries to calm everyone down just before he shoots himself is pretty funny

  60. AH?! says:

    WHAT A SHOT

  61. Neisy says:

    Yeah so I watch this and im just.. disgusted. For one, that is an enormous amount of blood. WTF was this guy thinking? I was born a few months after this happened in Philly, PA so I have no memory of it but seeing it now its like.. I cant imagine. Takes alot of guts to brazenly do something like that in front of a crowd of people. I am amazed at how much blood came out AND the fact that he was still alive a few seconds after. Now thats one brave, dude
    R.i.P

  62. EaZy174 says:

    for all of u giys saying hes still alive… maybe so… but he didnt feel a damn thing… its like with a chicken… they arent still alive but the nerves are still working… look at him right b4 the trigger pull… he was extremely excited and that was his last reaction. so his body kept that reaction till it died out….

  63. billy says:

    he ruined the rug

  64. matt says:

    wow thats pretty fucked up

  65. Trevor says:

    I liked when the guy in the background just yells “HOLY SHIT!”

  66. SARAHCAT says:

    And then someone (maybe the same person) Keeps saying over oh shit! But has anyone noticed that the guy shuffiling(sp) papers, was so calm, even when he was standing infront of bleeding Budd, I think he must of known before hand what was going to happen…I wonder if the Judge who sentenced Budd, is still alive, and how he feels(if still alive) on Budd’s death

  67. schizoid says:

    Poor guy. This happened the year I was born, I’ve seen the moment he shot himself before but never the aftermath. Fascinating!

  68. Revan says:

    What the hell good would an ambulance do? Lol

  69. DylanG says:

    omg, at like 1:03 he either laughs, or gasps for air.
    it sounds like he slowly says “its, Ok”. but thats probably what I want to hear lol. Either way I think after the shot, he was still alive to feel it. shiiiiit.
    and yeah, props to the camera guy for keeping it rolling and not looking away

  70. wez says:

    There was so much blood coz he shot a hole through his air way and into his brain, leaving a path from his nose to his brain hence all of the blood pouring

  71. Razle says:

    At 1:03 it isn’t a laugh or words, it’s called the “death rattle”.

    It is the last of the air leaving the body.

  72. Chronoscon says:

    I am amazed (in a good way) at the amount of confidence that man had – even with his suicide, which most people hesitate on for much much longer.

    Also, for those of you wondering – for him, when he pulled the trigger, for him it would have felt like a massive sneeze, then pouring lots of phlegm. He would have heard a high pitched sound, then his vision would have faded to black.

    So no – he certainly didn’t suffer.

  73. jon says:

    damn! the exit wound is big! he is fetured in a marlyin manson song get your gunn

  74. Dan says:

    Thats why I say Hey man nice shot!

  75. god says:

    that was totally metal. Everyone who is grossed out by this is a fag.

  76. bon says:

    that was wicked

  77. random says:

    “somebody call a doctor and an ambulance”

    lmao, wtf is a doctor going to do for a guy who just blew his brains out?

  78. Anon. says:

    That was pretty rank.

    Lol did you hear the guy afterwards who went ‘I’m a doctor!’

    As if that’s gunna help

  79. Amber-Mae says:

    This is horrible! I’m just wondering why when people shoot their heads, blood comes out from the mouth & nose? How does that happen?

  80. Gosh says:

    Gosh! How far are they willing to go on commiting these “so called” accusations agains whomever comes by..he didnt seem like a bad person, sad for his family..somelegacy to carry on their shoulders.

  81. a human being says:

    L0Lz no$e faucet!

  82. killdozer says:

    you need a lot of bravery to take your own life in that way.I can only feel admiration for him.

  83. Jwar10 says:

    I was a kid when this happened…the live news press-comference cut to commercial before you actually saw him slide down the wall. This suicide is the basis for the Filter song “Hey Man Nice Shot”

  84. Anonymous says:

    HOLY FUCK

  85. blood will spill says:

    i think he hits the table in front of him then falls back. notice that little cut on his forehead

  86. bip says:

    why cant politicians shoot themselves on television more often. i have to look for hours on the internet to find a good vid…

  87. Emily says:

    wow. I must be really messed up. I didn’t even flinch when I saw the video for hte first time

  88. hatefigure says:

    a 357 magnum he aint kiddin

  89. Budd Dwyer says:

    shit, can someone get me a towel? make that 2?

  90. Tim Anderson says:

    Pure and total asshole coward. Someone call a doctor? Yeah ok we’ll get right on that asap.

  91. BEkt says:

    I think he wanted to say a final speech but its a shame everyone was shouting. A sad event.

  92. bp says:

    damn thats a lot of blood.
    it’s weird how us people are attracted to death like this. it’s just human nature to be interested in death i guess. and gore.

  93. MagsG says:

    Nice death…

  94. MagsG says:

    I also think he was trying to say his last speech…

    The people are just too scared to see someone with a fire arm. “sissy” people I would say; like wet chicks, helpless as ever.

  95. Gor1 says:

    Approx. 1 liter of blood is pumped by our hearts through our brains per minute. Rip a hole in there, and all that blood will come pouring out, like water from a ripped pipe.

  96. ShoShoBitch says:

    At least he died with a normal looking face

  97. Deadkeeper says:

    I saw this video in a “Faces of Death” dvd, with better quality..

  98. You Cant Win says:

    “soembdoy call a doctor” bit late for that, don’t ya think?

  99. candycab says:

    I actually saw live on C-Span when it happened.

    Makes me want to listen to Filter :-)

  100. ThatSpaceGuy says:

    I saw this live on television when I was nine,It’s a damn shame.

  101. Invectrum says:

    I dont know what to think of this but..this video didnt bother me at all….I was just kinda suprised that so many people were sympathetic on a gore website…

  102. live-life says:

    notice how he hands the envelopes to everyone intended. if they would have opened the envelopes right away then they could have seen the suiside note and therfore prevented this wasted suiside.

  103. Krystal_the_pistol says:

    i saw this on this on movie you can rent at videoland its call faces of death or something i was in shock when i saw it!yuck!

  104. ThatSpaceGuy says:

    The only suicide where he was descent enough to wear a suit.

  105. Crazy-Cannibal says:

    I wish i couldve seen this live
    Either on the tv or in person.
    this man was great.

    Its so sad what society has come down to.
    forcing a man to kill himself,
    jsut to save his family.

    tisk tisk y’all

    STUPID AMERICANS!

  106. BloodType says:

    yaaaay

  107. rainy says:

    i never saw that much come out of a person’s head like that.. i guess maybe it’s the angle he held it and what it hit?? i hate it but i’m obsessed with this video!

  108. willieboy says:

    Obsessions/addictions can very, very easily destroy us, and, too frequently, do. This is why, if we truly love or care about people, we will be constantly on the lookout for the symptoms of these problems in those we care about. Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem and we, as ‘human’ beings need to look at this sadness and realize that ‘there but for the grace of God, go I’. We are to endure these ‘light and temporary afflictions’ because that is exactly what they are and we have been given a way out of them.

  109. Sham says:

    He pulled it out of a manilla envelope, actually.

  110. SamIAm says:

    This act was the basis for Filter’s hit song “Hey Man, Nice Shot” ~ Short Bus Album.
    I saw it live on TV while sitting in the barber’s chair in 1987. Pretty chilling, but you have to admire his courage to go through with it. Most would have punked-out.

  111. terrenceryan22 says:

    Listen carefully to the background audio near the end, someone actually asks someone to call a doctor?!?!?! Un-fucking-believable…lol

  112. Weiand says:

    He wanted to ensure his family would be taken care of financially…if he was in fact innocent as he claims…it was a very noble and selfless thing to do.

  113. dekydoods says:

    I was able to watch this video on a local news program (after that, the video was already censored and no news program were allowed to show that video again). I was 14 then when that happened and now after 23 years, I would still vividly remember the day I watched that news program and saw for the first time someone committing suicide for real. Well, during that time it was quite shocking, but nowadays, with the power of the internet, videos of suicides can be viewed even by young kids. Not something new for young viewers of the present.

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