BROWNSVILLE — An 18-year-old San Juan man was in critical condition and on life support after playing what appeared to be a one-person game of Russian roulette while under the influence of alcohol and Rohypnol. The teen, who police have not named, was drinking at his rural home with his cousin, 25-year-old Marcos Gomez, Saturday when he pulled out a revolver and put it against his head, police investigator Rolando Garcia said.

“According to Gomez, the victim pulled out a revolver and emptied it leaving only one round in there. He spun the barrel once, it clicked and the gun didn't go off; spun the barrel again and it didn't go off, did it again and on the third time the gun went off,” Garcia said. Hospital tests on the teen confirmed that he had been mixing alcohol with Rohypnol, a powerful sedative. The teen's sister and brother-in-law were sleeping in the house and called 911.

After turning himself in hours later, Gomez told police that he had only been drinking beer, and that he panicked and threw the gun into a brush area. He was not tested for drug use. He was charged Sunday with tampering with evidence and released Tuesday from the Hidalgo County Jail on a $5,000 bond. Garcia said the teen was not believed to have been suicidal.

“We don't think it was anything that he was trying to do to intentionally harm himself,” Garcia said. “He knew there was a round in there and he knew what he was doing. He just took his chances too far.” Police on Wednesday were still trying to find the gun.

SOURCE: http://www.mysanantonio.com (redacted)