• jaaake@lemmy.world
    1·
    5 months ago

    Knowledge bomb time!

    This is Robert Budd Dwyer, a Pennsylvania politician who committed suicide during a live press conference in 1987. This photo is from that press conference, the trombone has been photoshopped over the gun he used.

    R. Budd Dwyer suicide

    For the 90s musical connection, this incident was the inspiration for Filter’s song “Hey Man Nice Shot.”

    • yesman@lemmy.world
      1·
      5 months ago

      The reason Dwyer shot himself is that he was facing prison time for a corruption scheme and if he died while still in office, his family got full benefits. Oh, and it turned out he was innocent.

      Edit: sorry, turns out I was spreading disinformation. I read the Wikipedia article and it turns out the evidence against Dwyer was pretty solid. Thanks u/TopRamenBinLaden for setting me straight.