Friend: Man shot himself playing Russian roulette

<p>A friend told authorities Raymond Harrold Gage was taking a break in the heat of the day from a construction project near Potter Valley when he unexpectedly pulled out a loaded revolver and engaged in a quick game of Russian roulette.</p><p>Whatever the events leading to the Wednesday shooting in Mendocino County, the result is likely to prove fatal for Gage, a Sacramento man.</p><p>Gage, 46, is not expected to survive the gunshot wound to his head, Mendocino County sheriff’s Capt. Kurt Smallcomb said.</p><p>Gage had been staying with his friend on some property near the Mendocino-Lake county line for about three weeks, helping to construct a building of some sort, authorities said.</p><p>The two men were taking a break at about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday when the .38-caliber revolver came out and Gage reportedly shot himself, authorities said.</p><p>He was immediately unresponsive, and the friend called 911 with a cell phone, then provided what first aid he could while awaiting emergency medics, they said.</p><p>Gage was taken by REACH helicopter to an undisclosed out-of-county hospital before deputies arrived, Smallcomb said.</p><p>He was listed in critical condition Friday morning at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, a hospital spokeswoman said.</p><p>Smallcomb said the case remained under investigation, and, in a press release, said, “the incident is considered suspicious in nature.”</p><p>“We treat gunshot injuries as suspicious always,” he said.</p>