THE INCIDENT

On the day July 15, 1974 a woman by the name of Christine Chubbuck, a news reporter aged 29 years who lived in Sarasota, Florida. She killed herself live on television, marking Television’s First Live Recorded (Attempted) Suicide during a broadcast of Suncoast Digest.

Before ending her life, she stated:
“In keeping with the WXLT practice of presenting the most immediate and complete reports of local blood and guts news. TV-40 presents what is believed to be, a television first. in living color, an exclusive coverage of an attempted suicide."

After saying the statement, she shot herself behind the right ear with a .38 caliber Smith and Wesson Revolver. She was pronounced dead 14 hours later in Sarasota Memorial Hospital located at 1700 S Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34239, United States.