A man tragically ended his life in a Home Depot store in Rochester, New York, after buying a utility knife. Local police and medical teams were promptly dispatched to the scene on Wednesday afternoon.
The man was not identified, but Irondequoit Police Chief Scott Peters stated that he walked into the Home Depot on East Ridge Road, purchased a utility knife, and then used it on himself, causing fatal injuries. The entire episode was caught on the store’s surveillance cameras.
Emergency medical services arrived quickly and attempted resuscitation, but the man was declared dead at Strong Memorial Hospital shortly before 3:30 pm.
The Irondequoit Police Department reiterated that there was no ongoing threat to public safety. The police department stated, “Our thoughts are with all those impacted by this incident.”
Home Depot employees and the local community are grappling with the aftermath of the event. Counseling services were arranged for the Home Depot employees who witnessed the incident. The unfortunate event contributes to the broader national dialogue about mental health and suicide.
Citing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 49,000 people ended their lives in 2022, and more than 50,000 did the same in 2023. This is the highest number ever documented according to a report. In light of this disturbing pattern, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is aiming to decrease the suicide rate by 20% by 2025 through numerous initiatives, including public education, advocacy, and support for those affected by suicide.
This is not the first violent event at Home Depot stores. In Victorville, California, two individuals were injured in December 2023 during a skirmish with a shoplifter. In another incident in April 2023 in Pleasanton, California, Blake Mohs, a loss prevention worker, was fatally shot while trying to stop a suspected shoplifter.
