Spokane7
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October 17, 2011 in City
Man jumps off Monroe Street Bridge in Spokane
An apparently distraught man jumped from the Monroe Street Bridge in downtown Spokane this evening.
The man, who is presumed dead, reportedly was running into traffic when witnesses called 911. Police negotiated with him on the bridge and were able to get him away from the ledge, but he ran back and jumped as officers tried to grab him.
The bridge was closed after the 6:15 p.m. incident as officers investigated. The bridge is partially blocked as fire crews and a helicopter search for his body.
1992 murder trial begins against sex offender 
Ed Byrnes on October 17 at 6:51 p.m.
Do not jump to conclusions folks. The Occupy Spokane facebook page indicates that a bystander may have tried to grab him. There is just insufficient information for any of us to arrive at any conclusions, so let’s hold back on our comments and spend our energy praying for this fellow human beings loved ones.
Ed Byrnes
tobiasg on October 17 at 6:59 p.m.
Another sad instance of someone taking their own life. My sympathies to his family and friends.
Pigrobin on October 17 at 7:14 p.m.
A tragic waste of life. My condolences to all that knew this lost soul.
SpokyDaBear on October 17 at 7:24 p.m.
Ed?
Do not “jump” to conclusions?
How rude!
Ed Byrnes on October 17 at 7:36 p.m.
It was not a pun, rather an inadvertently very poor word choice. My apology to this persons loved ones if I initially appeared to be making a pun. As I see it there is no humor in this story Spoky.
Ed
johnclarke on October 17 at 7:44 p.m.
ok Spoky, at ease.
Bruce (aka thatoneguy) on October 17 at 7:58 p.m.
Spoky, your rude comments have no place here. His family is suffering and all you can do is pick imaginary fights because of imaginary slights.
Shame on you!
I won’t say the Spokesman should ban you, but it would be a lot more civil around here if they did.
Lewis on October 17 at 7:58 p.m.
sad end to a attempt by many to save this man.
poor guy probably found out the city needs full payment to turn his water back on.
misjustice on October 17 at 7:59 p.m.
How sad.
I often wonder, after a suicide like this, what pushes a person to end their life?
zelda on October 17 at 8:03 p.m.
A person attempted to jump from the Hamilton St. bridge just a few days ago but was talked down. A lot of despondent, lonely and desperate people out there. Condolences to the family and those who tried to keep it from happening.
Ed Byrnes on October 17 at 8:13 p.m.
MisJ, my best understanding of suicide is that a person no longer perceives a future where anything will be any different than their current emotional state of desperation, so basically it is a very deeply felt sense of hopelessness.
Ed Byrnes
Truthhurts on October 17 at 8:15 p.m.
People are right to believe no one cares.
We needed Great Depression kinds of job programs, and we get Republican viciousness toward the average person and their largesse to the super-rich, or we get Republican-light in Obama.
VP Cheney can preach “deficits don’t matter” as he hands the money to Halliburton, but suddenly when we need large stimulus packages (see Great Depression) we get austerity that makes the rich richer, and everyone else poorer.
We are entering our 4th year of this Great Recession, and no one in power cares.
But, don’t jump. Fight!
JustaSpaz on October 17 at 8:17 p.m.
Whatever happened to compassion in this world? This person, for whatever reason, felt helpless. I don’t know, nor does anyone else know! I would venture a guess and say he probably has a family, a mother and a father, maybe a sister or brother. People need to stop being so judgmental.
RedCedar on October 17 at 8:20 p.m.
People, look out for each other out there. It’s tough being human, and sometimes it’s especially hard for some people. Nobody really knows why any particular person decides “not to be”, but I do know that some of them had friends who forever regret having not noticed or done anything when they could have. Not everybody is joking, and not everybody can snap out of it (no matter what “it” is). Suicide is forever. My former brother in law was a medic and he told me that everyone he ever revived who had tried to kill themselves with pills said that as they were blacking out they wished they hadn’t done it. A gun or a high bridge leaves us less chance to find out, but I’m sure there are plenty who let go of that bridge railing and change their mind halfway down. Look out for each other. Please.
SpokyDaBear on October 17 at 8:21 p.m.
JustaSpaz… Well said…
terryalan on October 17 at 8:30 p.m.
Ed Byrnes, my own experiences lead me to think your description to be absolutely on the nose…
meadman on October 17 at 10:55 p.m.
Spoky you are a disgusting example of a human being — can’t you just either show compassion or (better) don’t feel you have to add ANY comments to this story? Your comments are rude, insensitive, and not at all funny.
Lost_in_Wa on October 17 at 11:27 p.m.
Spoky, you are a very sick person. The bottom line is this person felt they hit rock bottom. If at any time you feel you hit bottom you need friends and family to let you know there is only one way to go and that would be up.
Bless the soul lost and shame those that shun and refused to help.
Lost_in_Wa on October 17 at 11:38 p.m.
Spoky, when you need help please ask. After reading all of your comments I am sure plenty will see you survive to beat you down. When you grow up and understand simple little facts people may listen to you.
For the rest please skip over his/her posts Spoky’s that is. and let him/her burn them self out on being what no one wants. I would be willing to bet Spoky has contemplated suicide many times but does’t have the gall to do it. He/She is just jealous and knows no other way. Spoky, pills you fat #$%& I will still talk to you when you fail at death like you do at life.
Ed Byrnes on October 18 at 12:11 a.m.
Spoky, I do not agree with people wishing you personal ill, and since I have never done so I hope you will take my message seriously. An impartial observer of this specific forum would find your comments inappropriately off the mark when so many others were writing from the heart about something very tragic. I genuinely suggest that you think more about the context and content of a forum before you post to it.
I assume that your tea bagger comment was not directed at me since a cursory reading of my postings should reveal that although I have a libertarian streak on social issues I am not aligned with the Tea Party.
You have a right to free speech as we all do, so please bear in mind that exercising our rights constructively is what gives them their meaning.
Ed Byrnes
hammer1969 on October 18 at 2:08 a.m.
The Occupy Spokane facebook page indicates that a bystander may have tried to grab him despite the police presence. In effect the bystander forced or pushed the distraught person to his death for no reason. Word is that the overally helpful bystander works for the Spokeshole Review…how ironic. Maybe the video will reveal the truth.
tobiasg on October 18 at 3:00 a.m.
I’m curious to know why comments are left on for this story yet comments for the man that murdered his 7 year old child in Idaho were turned off? Apparently suicide is proper fodder for comments but discussing proper gun safety is not.
misjustice on October 18 at 12:34 p.m.
I dunno, tobiasg, but I would suggest that “murdered” is too harsh a word to use to describe the accident that involved a father accidentally shooting his son.
Maybe that is why the SR closed the story to comments; because they did not want to have to monitor comments suggesting that a loving father murdered his son? And also, perhaps, did not want a grieving family to be able to read the types of comments that usually get posted on these threads when guns are involved.
I dunno, I’m just guessing…
mauijim on October 22 at 10:02 a.m.
Lost in Wa.
Wow, you condem Spoky for his/her comments, but yet you are 100 times more rude. You need to look at yourself first.