Ronald 'Ronnie' Merle McNutt, a 33-year-old male, ended his life at his home in New Albany, Mississippi, on August 31, 2020. A veteran of the United States Army Reserve who had served in Iraq, McNutt had been grappling with mental health challenges, including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. He was an employee at a local Toyota plant and was known to be a regular churchgoer.
On that final evening, McNutt initiated a livestream on Facebook, a platform he sometimes used to
talk through his thoughts with an online audience. However, the tone of this broadcast was different, causing alarm for friends who tuned in. He appeared to be heavily intoxicated and in a state of despair. During the stream, he handled a rifle, at one point misfiring it. His phone rang multiple times as friends and family tried desperately to reach him.
One of his final interactions was a brief, tense phone call with his girlfriend. After the call ended, McNutt addressed his viewers for the last time. He then fatally shot himself under the chin. The New Albany Police Department had been dispatched to his apartment during the livestream after being alerted by concerned individuals. Officers established a perimeter and tried to communicate with him via a speakerphone but were unable to make contact. They entered his residence only after hearing the gunshot. His death was ruled a suicide, and consequently, there were no arrests or suspects in the case.
