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Famous People who Died of Gunshot Wounds

1 - 14 of 14 Historically important and notable famous people who died of gunshot wounds ranked by their popularity on On This Day.

List of Deaths from Gunshot Wounds

  • 1622-01-23 William Baffin, English explorer, dies of a gunshot wound at in attack on Qeshm about 38
  • 1809-10-11 Meriwether Lewis, American explorer, soldier and public administrator who helped lead the Lewis and Clark Expedition, dies of gunshot wounds at 35 under mysterious circumstances that could have been murder or suicide along the Natchez Trace in Tennessee at an inn called Grinder's Stand
  • 1855-03-08 William Poole, American gang member (New York City's Bowery Boys), dies of a gunshot wound at 33
  • 1865-04-15 Abraham Lincoln, 16th US President (Republican: 1861-65), dies from gunshot wounds at 56
  • 1881-07-14 Billy the Kid [William H. Bonney], American frontier outlaw and gunfighter of the Wild West, shot by sheriff Pat Garrett and dies of gunshot wounds at 21
  • 1881-09-19 James A. Garfield, 20th US President (Republican: 1881), dies of a gunshot wound at 49
  • 1915-05-09 François Faber, Luxembourgian cyclist (Tour de France 1909), killed in action by gunshot wounds at 28
  • 1928-11-06 Arnold Rothstein, American gambler and mobster who fixed the 1919 World Series, dies of gunshot wounds at 46
  • 1929-03-15 Clarence "Pinetop" Smith, American jazz pianist and singer (Boogie Woogie Piano), dies of a gunshot wound in a dance-hall fight at 24
  • 1932-09-05 Paul Bern, German-American director, producer and husband of Jean Harlow, found dead with a gunshot wound at 42
  • 1935-05-01 Henri Pélissier, French cyclist (Tour de France 1923), dies of a gunshot wound at 46
  • 1943-03-19 Frank Nitti [Francesco Nitto], Italian-American gangster, dies from self-inflicted gunshots at 57
  • 1946-06-09 Rama VIII [Ananda Mahidol], King of Siam (1935-46), dies of a mysterious gunshot wound at 21
  • 1960-02-29 Melvin Purvis [Little Mel], American FBI agent that lead the manhunt for outlaws Baby Face Nelson, Pretty Boy Floyd and John Dillinger, dies of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at 56
  • 1973-07-10 Wallace "Bud" Smith, American boxer (World lightweight title 1955-56), dies of gunshot wounds at 49
  • 1975-06-19 Sam Giancana, American mobster and boss of the Chicago Outfit (1957-66), dies of multiple gunshot wounds at 67
  • 1979-02-02 Jim Burke, Australian cricket batsman (24 Tests; record for most innings in a complete career without scoring a duck [44]) and broadcaster (ABC), dies of self inflicted gunshot wounds at 48
  • 1980-01-07 Larry Williams, American R&B singer-songwriter ("Dizzy, Miss Lizzie"; "Slow Down"), dies of a gunshot wound to the head at 44
  • 1980-12-02 Romain Gary [Roman Kacew], Lithuanian-French writer, also published as Émile Ajar (Les racines du ciel; La vie devant soi), diplomat, and screenwriter (The Longest Day), dies of a self-inflicted gunshot at 66
  • 1982-07-21 Dave Garroway, American TV host (Today Show, 1951-61), dies of self-inflicted gunshot wound at 69
  • 1982-11-29 Percy Williams, Canadian athlete (Olympic gold 100m / 200m 1928), dies from self inflicted gunshot wounds at 74
  • 1989-11-06 Dickie Goodman, American parody singer and producer ("The Flying Saucer"; "Energy Crisis '74"; "Mr. Jaws"), dies from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at 55
  • 1991-06-27 Jason Christmas, American actor (That's Adequate), dies of a gunshot wound during robbery in NYC at 49
  • 1992-06-11 Scotty Sachs, actor (Hanoi Hilton), dies of gunshot wounds at 39
  • 1994-07-02 Andrés Escobar, Colombian soccer defender (51 caps, World Cup own goal vs US; SA Atlético Nacional), dies of a gunshot wound at 27
  • 1995-02-07 William Harry "Billy" Jones, American rock guitarist (The Outlaws), dies of self-inflicted gunshot at 45
  • 1996-01-26 David Schultz, American freestyle wrestler (Olympic gold 74kg 1984; World C'ship gold 1983), dies from gunshot wounds at 36
  • 1996-07-29 Jason Thirsk, American punk rock bassist (Pennywise), dies of an accidental self-inflicted gunshot at 28
  • 1998-06-10 Steve Sanders, American country baritone singer (Oak Ridge Boys, 1987-95), dies of a self-inflicted gunshot at 45
  • 2000-10-16 Rick Jason [Richard Jacobson], American stage and screen actor (Combat! - "Lt. Hanley"; The Fountain of Youth; Day of the Wolves), dies of a self-inflicted gunshot at 77
  • 2003-12-01 Eugenio Monti, Italian bobsledder (2 x Olympic gold 2-man, 4-man 1968; World C'ships 9 x gold), dies from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at 75
  • 2004-12-11 José Luis Cuciuffo, Argentinian soccer defender (21 caps; Vélez Sársfield, Boca Juniors, Nîmes Olympique), dies from gunshot wound in stomach while hunting at 43
  • 2005-02-20 Hunter S. Thompson, American journalist and author (Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas), commits suicide via a self-inflicted gunshot wound at 67
  • 2006-07-03 Benjamin Hendrickson, American stage and screen actor (As The World Turns, 1985-2006 - "Hal Munson"), dies of a self-inflicted gunshot at 55
  • 2012-03-03 Ronnie Montrose, American rock guitarist (Montrose, Gamma), dies from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at 64
  • 2012-04-23 Tommy Marth, American rock saxophone player (the Killers, 2008-2010), dies of self-inflicted gunshot at 33
  • 2012-08-30 Chris Lighty, American music executive and manager (Violator), dies of a gunshot wound at 44
  • 2012-11-24 Héctor Camacho, Puerto Rican boxer (WBC super featherweight 1983-84, WBC lightweight 1985-87, WBO Jr. welterweight twice 1989-1992), dies from gunshot wounds at 50
  • 2016-06-10 Christina Grimmie, American singer and contestant on "The Voice", dies of a gunshot wound at 22
  • 2017-01-24 (Claude) "Butch" Trucks, American rock drummer (The Allman Brothers Band - "Whipping Post"), dies of a self-inflicted gunshot at 69
  • 2021-02-25 John Geddert, American gymnastics coach (US head coach London Olympic Team 2012), dies from self-inflicted gunshot wounds at 63
  • 2022-04-30 (Diana) "Naomi" Judd, American Grammy Award-winning country singer (The Judds - "Why Not Me"), dies of a self-inflicted gunshot at 76