Autopsy of School Board Shooter Released: Celexa Found: Shooter Killed Himself
Summary:
Paragraphs three through five read: "Duke, 56, killed himself Dec. 14 after firing several shots at school board members during a public meeting. Duke was brought down by three bullets from Mike Jones, the district’s chief of safety."
"A toxicology report revealed that at the time of Duke’s death, he had atropine, a drug commonly used in emergency rooms to resuscitate dying patients; acetaminophen; Terbinafine, used to fight fungal infections in fingers and toes; and Citalopram, an antidepressant found in Celexa, in his system."
Forest Laboratories Inc., which makes Celexa, notes on its website the company urges patients to “call a health care provider right away if you or your family member has any of the following symptoms, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you: thoughts about suicide or dying, attempts to commit suicide,new or worse depression, new or worse anxiety, feeling very agitated or restless, panic attacks, trouble sleeping (insomnia), new or worse irritability, acting aggressive, being angry, or violent, acting on dangerous impulses, an extreme increase in activity and talking (mania), other unusual changes in behavior or mood.”
Paragraph 10 reads: "The autopsy states Duke died with three bullet wounds in his back, but it was the self-inflicted shot to his head that killed him. The official cause of death is gunshot wound to the head; the official manner of death is suicide."
PANAMA CITY The man who held the Bay District School Board hostage before killing himself last year had an antidepressant, acetaminophen and foot fungus medication in his system, his autopsy revealed.
The report on Clay Duke was released Wednesday by the Bay County medical examiner’s office.
Duke, 56, killed himself Dec. 14 after firing several shots at school board members during a public meeting. Duke was brought down by three bullets from Mike Jones, the district’s chief of safety.
A toxicology report revealed that at the time of Duke’s death, he had atropine, a drug commonly used in emergency rooms to resuscitate dying patients; acetaminophen; Terbinafine, used to fight fungal infections in fingers and toes; and Citalopram, an antidepressant found in Celexa, in his system.
Forest Laboratories Inc., which makes Celexa, notes on its website the company urges patients to “call a health care provider right away if you or your family member has any of the following symptoms, especially if they are new, worse, or worry you: thoughts about suicide or dying, attempts to commit suicide, new or worse depression, new or worse anxiety, feeling very agitated or restless, panic attacks, trouble sleeping (insomnia), new or worse irritability, acting aggressive, being angry, or violent, acting on dangerous impulses, an extreme increase in activity and talking (mania), other unusual changes in behavior or mood.”
Attempts to contact officials with Forest Laboratories were unsuccessful Wednesday.
Lu Jones, a pharmacist at Cooper’s Drugs in downtown Panama City, called Celexa a very popular drug, adding that though her patients might have some of the listed side effects, none has ever made her aware of problems while taking the drug.
“It seems to be tolerated very well with my patients,” Jones said.
The standoff, which was videotaped by cameras set up by the school district and local television reporters, began when Duke mumbled to himself, painted a large red V on the wall of the board room and pulled out a handgun. Duke marked Dec. 14 on his home calendar with the same symbol.
The autopsy states Duke died with three bullet wounds in his back, but it was the self-inflicted shot to his head that killed him. The official cause of death is gunshot wound to the head; the official manner of death is suicide.
According to the report, Jones hit Duke three times in the back during the gunfight. “Gunshot Wound A” struck Duke in the mid-left back and exited. “Gunshot Wound B” struck Duke in the lower left back, but did not penetrate his abdominal or chest cavities. “Gunshot Wound C” hit Duke in the lower right back and struck his pelvic bone. This is believed to be the shot that brought him to the ground, officials said.
The video of the attack shows that after Duke fell to the ground, he placed the gun above his head and fired the final, fatal, shot that day.
In 1999, Duke was convicted of shooting into a vehicle and aggravated stalking. His attorney, Ben Bollinger, said Duke was waiting in the woods for his wife with a rifle, wearing a mask and a bulletproof vest. She confronted him and then tried to leave in a vehicle, and Duke shot the tires of the vehicle.
“The guy was like, just out there,” Bollinger said in December. “He had some bad problems.”
Duke also described himself as a “freedom fighter” on his Facebook page and left a rambling manifesto.
“My testament: Some people (the government sponsored media) will say I was evil, a monster (V) … no … I was just born poor in a country where the Wealthy manipulate, use, abuse, and economically enslave 95% of the population. Rick (sic) Republicans, Rich Democrats … same-same … rich …”