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By Times staff writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published June 13, 2001
ST. PETERSBURG -- A 16-year-old fired a bullet into his face while playing Russian roulette by himself, police said.
Clinton Pope was in critical but stable condition Tuesday at Bayfront Medical Center, said St. Petersburg police spokesman George Kajtsa.
A friend of Pope's told police they had been drinking and smoking marijuana when Pope decided to play Russian roulette about 1:15 a.m. Monday at 1125 Tyrone Blvd.
Pope put a single bullet into a revolver, spun the chamber, put the barrel beneath his chin and pulled the trigger. Nothing happened.
Pope spun the chamber and did it again. Nothing happened.
On the third try, the gun fired. The bullet went into Pope's chin and out the top of his head, police said.
Three other people were present at the time, but none of the others were playing Russian roulette, they told police.
Pope has a lengthy criminal record, including two convictions for auto theft, police said. He was charged in 1998 with possessing and displaying a firearm, but those charges were dropped.