Rampage Shooter Willed PlayStation 3 to Roommate in Suicide Note

January 26, 2009

Erik Ayala (left), the 24-year-old Oregon man whose weekend shooting rampage left two dead and seven wounded, willed his PlayStation 3 to a roommate before embarking his murderous mission.

The Oregonian reports that a suicide note found by police in Ayala's apartment even specified how much his roommate might earn by selling his PS3:

And to my friend, (redacted)

I am especially sorry. I know it's not much consolation but as my friend and roommate you are entitled to everything that I own. Maybe these things can bring in a few bucks.

Good luck in this shitty world...

You know my ps3 is special. Similiar USED ps3's go for AT LEAST $450-$500. Our landlord guy wants a ps3 like mine. Let him know that $400 would be a GOOD deal. If he doesn't want it, format the drive by going to Settings>System>Format Utility. You can say it "comes with the latest firmware software" to help market it on the internet. In case you don't know, it's the special "100% backwards compatible" (60 GB) ps3.

I'm sorry to put all this on you buddy, good luck.

As GamePolitics noted earlier today, Ayala, who remains in critical condition after shooting himself in the head, was reportedly a fan of FPS game Resistance: Fall of Man and Left 4 Dead.

UPDATE: Ayala has died, reports The Oregonian.

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Comments

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Submitted by achet on Thu, 05/21/2009 - 03:06.

A young man definitely needed treatment that he didn’t get and took his reasons for his bizarre actions to his grave. menopauza

Re: Rampage Shooter Willed PlayStation 3 to Roommate in Suicide

Submitted by Shadow D. Darkman on Thu, 01/29/2009 - 02:41.

Erik's dead?

OH, SH

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Game on, brothers and sisters." -Leet Gamer Jargon

-----------------------------

"A Chrono Trigger is anything that unleashes its will or desire to change history!" -Gaspar

Re: Rampage Shooter Willed PlayStation 3 to Roommate in Suicide

Submitted by ezbiker555 on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 12:55.

Weird. O.o

Re: Rampage Shooter Willed PlayStation 3 to Roommate in Suicide

Submitted by SiteServant on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 11:30.

What should be done .... is let this story be publicised.

Then the police should publicize that a raffle will be held for $50 per ticket. The winner of the raffle will get this killer's PS3. All proceeds from the raffle will be evenly distributed among the families of the victims.

People who want to win this sicko's PS3 will have a chance (while contributing to a good cause). Additionally, this will give those who (don't care about the PS3 but) want to contribute an avenue to do so as well.

Re: Rampage Shooter Willed PlayStation 3 to Roommate in Suicide

Submitted by Krono on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 11:46.

How about we just give the PS3 to the roommate? Assuming the shooter dies of course.

This guy appears of have been a "sicko" only in the sense that he was ill, not in the sense that he was a truly twisted person. More worth pity than condemnation.

-Gray17

Re: Rampage Shooter Willed PlayStation 3 to Roommate in Suicide

Submitted by magic_taco on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 11:04.

Yeah, But with things being more expensive, I dont think it wouldnt be easy to get things that way.

Magic Taco

Re: Rampage Shooter Willed PlayStation 3 to Roommate in Suicide

Submitted by Max Payne 2k8 on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 11:00.

It's terrible that people could do something like this. If you think life sucks, you don't go out hurting other people or commiting suicide. You get help. I agree with mogbert. It is a depressing world.

~ Max Payne 2k8

Re: Rampage Shooter Willed PlayStation 3 to Roommate in Suicide

Submitted by mogbert on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 10:43.

Yeah, it's wierd that the guy had enough empathy to feel bad about his roommate, but not enough to keep from shooting those other people. He may have seen the other people as part of the problem, or had some sort of grudge against that kind of person, if not those people specifically.

As I approach middle age, I really see the big rift between the have's and the have-not's. I'm doing fairly well for myself currently, I could buy any video game I want and have all three systems, however, I'm making only an average salary, I get by because I pinch pennies (ramen noodles and vienna sausages). Wife lost her job. I'm set to lose my job shortly. But then there are these CEO's that run a company into the ground so that the government has to give them billions of dollars. They are holding themselves ransom litteraly. They say the government can't let them go under. And in exchange for their gross incompetance, they get millions and millions of dollars in bonuses, "retention" money, and golden parachutes. These guys make more money in one year failing spectaculery and pulling the country down with them then I could doing the best I can for my entire life. I do an excelent job, considered the go-to guy for my office, and I could get laid off if the district manager has a bad day.

It is a very depressing world. And as the economy goes down more and more, and we get both reports of mass layoffs and how sports stars, movie stars, and fat cat CEO's compain they can no longer bathe in Don Perion, people are going to start going off more and more. You'll see a lot more murder suicides. The world isn't fair, and while nothing they can do to make it fair, they may just feel the only way they can make their mark on history is to be a bad example to others.

Re: Rampage Shooter Willed PlayStation 3 to Roommate in Suicide

Submitted by Bennett Beeny on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 15:37.

"...it's wierd that the guy had enough empathy to feel bad about his roommate, but not enough to keep from shooting those other people."

Yeah, that's what shows that the guy's a complete nutter. His roommate should be thanking his lucky stars that he didn't end up cut up into small pieces, stuffed in a trash compactor and with his blood splattered all over the walls.

Re: Rampage Shooter Willed PlayStation 3 to Roommate in Suicide

Submitted by MasterAssassin on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 07:15.

I personally hope that he dies in the hospital so our tax payer dollars don't have to pay for his trial and there isn't a risk of him getting off for being mentally ill. Also if he dies it doesn't give some sleazy lawyer a chance to use the "video games made me do it" defense. Please let him die in the hospital so that that the relatives can grieve in peace without asshole lawyers and reporters trying to profit off of this.

Re: Rampage Shooter Willed PlayStation 3 to Roommate in Suicide

Submitted by Neeneko on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 11:46.

btw - it should also be noted that 'getting off' for being mentally ill does not mean you go free. It means you end up in an institution which can be worse then prision.

Re: Rampage Shooter Willed PlayStation 3 to Roommate in Suicide

Submitted by Neeneko on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 11:45.

On the flip side, if he actually is mentally ill then this would be a sad case since that is just one more victim. It could also highlight the social question of, if he actually was truely ill, why was he not getting help?

This is one of the classic problems with the mentally ill in america. Even if they have health insurance the coverage is always really poor since people tend to view mental problems as 'not real' or 'luxury treatment'... but many mentally ill don't have insurance and getting them treatment is really explitive difficult (if you can even convince them too).. which often leads to suicide, murder, or simple loss of workforce.

Re: Rampage Shooter Willed PlayStation 3 to Roommate in Suicide

Submitted by Krono on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 12:04.

Even if you have insurance, having any sort of mental illness tends to skyrocket your premiums, be a reason for denial of insurance in the future when you try and change insurance, and so forth. Makes for a high barrier for treatment.

-Gray17

Re: Rampage Shooter Willed PlayStation 3 to Roommate in Suicide

Submitted by Krono on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 10:37.

Personally I'd kinda like him to live. Yeah it'd be more expensive for the tax payer, but the guy was mentally ill, and we might get some answers as to what the thell he was thinking.

The flip side is that it would be cheaper if he died, and possibly more mercyful all around. The guy was depressed before, and if he lives, he'd have to contend with owning up to what he's done on top of that. Plus his victims family's would have to deal with the emotional stress of him still being alive, and all the legal stuff that would bring.

-Gray17

Re: Rampage Shooter Willed PlayStation 3 to Roommate in Suicide

Submitted by Geoff on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 08:50.

I wouldn't count-out the sleazy lawyers just yet. Just because JT can't practice law anymore doesn't mean there aren't a whole lot of lawyers out that that would love to milk this for some cash.

He shot and killed several people. There is a good chance that the families of one of the victims may hire a lawyer and attempt to sue anyone they can for some money. The more attention is placed on what games he played, the higher the chance that they'll sue Sony, Valve, etc. using the same BS logic as all the other court cases.

Tea and cake or death! Tea and cake or death! Little Red Cook-book! Little Red Cook-book!

Re: Rampage Shooter Willed PlayStation 3 to Roommate in Suicide

Submitted by Rodrigo Ybáñez ... on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 10:41.

Well, I think that the most of lawyers won´t try to demand Sony for those deaths because they would be wasting time instead of making a real legal defense.

Still, I really want that moron inside bars.

The cynical side of videogames (spanish only): http://thelostlevel.blogspot.com/ My DeviantArt Page (aka DeviantCensorship): http://www.darkknightstrikes.deviantart.com/

Re: Rampage Shooter Willed PlayStation 3 to Roommate in Suicide

Submitted by Arell on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 06:39.

First thought: "Douche."

Second thought: "Man, I wish I could have his 60g PS3...."

I'm seriously messed up.

Re: Rampage Shooter Willed PlayStation 3 to Roommate in Suicide

Submitted by Chuma on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 06:35.

I think this shows his disassociation between his friends and the rest of the world that he obviously cared about his flatmate and him not being out of pocket but didn't care about shooting random strangers. I'm no psychologist, but there is something clearly wrong with his outlook. Shame it took a suicide note and 2 deaths for it to come to light :/

Re: Rampage Shooter Willed PlayStation 3 to Roommate in Suicide

Submitted by Attack_Gypsy on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 06:10.

And the worst thing is that the room mate won't get anything. The cops probably seized it as evidence. They probably got a blanket search warrant to seize "anything of interest or involvement in this crime".

Yes, I am a liberal. I also believe in a strong military, less government, and the right to bear arms.

Re: Rampage Shooter Willed PlayStation 3 to Roommate in Suicide

Submitted by reverandspaniel on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 05:33.

Maybe the fact that he had a PS3 was the reason he went on his spree?

(I'm sorry, I know that was in poor taste, I just couldn't resist the easy fanboy comment...)

Re: Rampage Shooter Willed PlayStation 3 to Roommate in Suicide

Submitted by Ambiguous on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 05:07.

Actually, if hi roommate put it up on Ebay, I bet it'd sell for a shitload. You know there are bound to be a lot of people that would love to buy that guys PS3, even if only for the story it comes with. I wouldnt want it, (I've already got one) but you know someone would.

However, its not technically his unless the shooter actually dies right?

Re: Rampage Shooter Willed PlayStation 3 to Roommate in Suicide

Submitted by ZippyDSMlee on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 00:51.

Why is this mroe gaming related than dev closeings?

GP you sir are slipping...I should know...I hit rock botom long ago :P

Gore,Violence,Sexauilty,Fear,Emotion these are but modes of transportation of story and thought, to take them from society you create a society of children and nannys, since adults are not required.

http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com

---

http://zippydsm.deviantart.com/

Re: Rampage Shooter Willed PlayStation 3 to Roommate in Suicide

Submitted by DeepThorn on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 08:35.

Yeah, I have to agree... Though these stories could be the straw the breaks the camel's back, the dev closing are the ton of bricks weakening it. Not to be an ass to the family and love one's of this guy, but dev closing I would have to say carry more weight. This story sucks (as in it is sad not that it is a bad story) and has it's points, but the economic melt down is starting to effect the game industry a lot, as well as software developers that make software for the game industry.

Nido Web Flash Tutorials AS2 and AS3 Tutorials for anyone interested.
How to set Xbox 360 Parental Controls

Re: Rampage Shooter Willed PlayStation 3 to Roommate in Suicide

Submitted by ZippyDSMlee on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 16:41.

I don't understand why no one for that matter is covering the dev closings I mean Free Radical ,ensemble,MS flight studio half a dozen other smaller studios.... GP out of them all should be covering it that is if he is truly is doing general gaming news like he says he is....I can sense the ECA wanting to keep things a certain way..but this all jsut dose not feel right....

Gore,Violence,Sexauilty,Fear,Emotion these are but modes of transportation of story and thought, to take them from society you create a society of children and nannys, since adults are not required.

http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com

---

http://zippydsm.deviantart.com/

Re: Rampage Shooter Willed PlayStation 3 to Roommate in Suicide

Submitted by finaleve on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 00:42.

Has anyone else notice that one of the games he plays is Left 4 Dead? Ya know, the game that isn't on the PS3? I also notice no mention of him owning a 360. I can see him owning a PC but...might not be able to actually play.

ANYWAYS, my condolences to the ones who have loss

Re: Rampage Shooter Willed PlayStation 3 to Roommate in Suicide

Submitted by Geoff on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 08:46.

Was wondering the same thing myself. Guess he could have either a PC or a 360 to play L4D. Then again this wouldn't be the first time a news sources has claimed that the shooter plays a particular game when, in fact, he doesn't. Like the Cho/Counter-Strike BS.

Tea and cake or death! Tea and cake or death! Little Red Cook-book! Little Red Cook-book!

Re: Rampage Shooter Willed PlayStation 3 to Roommate in Suicide

Submitted by sortableturnip on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 08:44.

They are only mentioning either 3rd party information or what was in the note. The information that he played L4D was from a 3rd party that supposedly knew him.

I'm thankful that they haven't pushed the video games agenda.

Sortableturnip's Law: As an online discussion of video game violence grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Jack Thompson approaches 1

Re: Rampage Shooter Willed PlayStation 3 to Roommate in Suicide

Submitted by Mechadon on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 00:15.

It doen't look like this case is getting attention from outside of Oregon. I haven't seen anyhting from this on CNN or on my local news.

Re: Rampage Shooter Willed PlayStation 3 to Roommate in Suicide

Submitted by Neeneko on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 11:41.

www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/01/26/portland.nightclub.shooting/index.html

Re: Rampage Shooter Willed PlayStation 3 to Roommate in Suicide

Submitted by Liz Surette on Mon, 01/26/2009 - 23:54.

Oooh, it must be a 60gig

www.gameslaw.net

Re: Rampage Shooter Willed PlayStation 3 to Roommate in Suicide

Submitted by hellfire7885 on Mon, 01/26/2009 - 23:46.

I freakin hate reading stories like these......

Re: Rampage Shooter Willed PlayStation 3 to Roommate in Suicide

Submitted by barra_sadei on Mon, 01/26/2009 - 23:32.

Well, it proves that gamers aren't as bad as you think...

... You know... If you overlook the whole "shot up the place" fact, than he's not so bad.

Re: Rampage Shooter Willed PlayStation 3 to Roommate in Suicide

Submitted by Shahab on Mon, 01/26/2009 - 22:47.

What a douche. You would think after playing Left 4 Dead he would be looking out for the non-infected, not shooting them.

Re: Rampage Shooter Willed PlayStation 3 to Roommate in Suicide

Submitted by SounDemon on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 10:39.

Maybe he's like the "better safe than sorry" guy in Death Toll.

Brain: "Pinky, are you pondering what I'm pondering?" Pinky: "I think so, Brain, but we're already naked."

Re: Rampage Shooter Willed PlayStation 3 to Roommate in Suicide

Submitted by Andrew Eisen on Mon, 01/26/2009 - 22:43.

Well that was considerate of him.

Damn shame he couldn't extend such courtesy to the nine people he shot.

Andrew Eisen

Re: Rampage Shooter Willed PlayStation 3 to Roommate in Suicide

Submitted by Shadow D. Darkman on Mon, 01/26/2009 - 22:46.

A shame indeed.

Then again...

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Game on, brothers and sisters." -Leet Gamer Jargon

-----------------------------

"A Chrono Trigger is anything that unleashes its will or desire to change history!" -Gaspar

Re: Rampage Shooter Willed PlayStation 3 to Roommate in Suicide

Submitted by sortableturnip on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 16:43.

Just had to be said.... :D

Sortableturnip's Law: As an online discussion of video game violence grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Jack Thompson approaches 1

Re: Rampage Shooter Willed PlayStation 3 to Roommate in Suicide

Submitted by Shadow D. Darkman on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 17:21.

Ah, thanks, that will do just fine.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Game on, brothers and sisters." -Leet Gamer Jargon

-----------------------------

"A Chrono Trigger is anything that unleashes its will or desire to change history!" -Gaspar

Re: Rampage Shooter Willed PlayStation 3 to Roommate in Suicide

Submitted by Zerodash on Mon, 01/26/2009 - 22:20.

...so what does this prove, exactly? I'm sure that some people will try to say the PS3 convinced him the world was shitty and made him kill.

Re: Rampage Shooter Willed PlayStation 3 to Roommate in Suicide

Submitted by Geoff on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 08:43.

For some reason I thought of the "Son of Sam" movie when I read that comment, only it was a PS3 instead of a dog, and the voice was Kojima.

Tea and cake or death! Tea and cake or death! Little Red Cook-book! Little Red Cook-book!

Re: Rampage Shooter Willed PlayStation 3 to Roommate in Suicide

Submitted by Rodrigo Ybáñez ... on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 10:37.

It could be Ken Kutaragi´s voice...

The cynical side of videogames (spanish only): http://thelostlevel.blogspot.com/ My DeviantArt Page (aka DeviantCensorship): http://www.darkknightstrikes.deviantart.com/

Re: Rampage Shooter Willed PlayStation 3 to Roommate in Suicide

Submitted by DeepThorn on Mon, 01/26/2009 - 22:55.

Yeah... the shitty economic situation, shitty government, people in shitty moods because of both of those, the fact that this world kinda is shitty (though still beautiful in a weird way), and overall, yeah... I agree... This is a shitty world... Not worth dieing over though.

Sex is great, raising kids I know has to be an amazing experience (though testing at times), doing things you once thought was impossible is amazing, same with helping someone turn their lives around... If nothing else, you could at least not be a pussy and try to make this shitty world a little bit better... Granted, I have had thoughts of suicide before, and most people I know have too. Hell, half the people I know have attempted it at least once...

There just isn't any reason for it... If nothing else, you can try to make this shit hole a little less shitty. Maybe leave your life behind you and start from scratch somewhere else, but NEVER lose contact with family, because they are important and care about you, even if they suck most the time. (My mom drives me insane every time I talk to her. Holy hell, WTF, she is insane, and forgets everything within 5 minutes, I blame menopause.)

You don't know whose life you could change durasticly for the better, and there are many individuals and groups out there that truely care to help people out when they are going through hard times.

Nido Web Flash Tutorials AS2 and AS3 Tutorials for anyone interested.
How to set Xbox 360 Parental Controls

Re: Rampage Shooter Willed PlayStation 3 to Roommate in Suicide

Submitted by sortableturnip on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 08:50.

From OPB News: http://news.opb.org/article/4118-friends-say-shooting-suspect-was-depres...

"Ayala’s roommate and other people have told police that Ayala was depressed."

From The Outlook Online: http://www.theoutlookonline.com/news/story.php?story_id=123302604757104500

"Ayala, who attended McNary High School in Keizer, was unemployed. A witness told police that he had been depressed, but gave no indication that he was going to harm anyone."

Sortableturnip's Law: As an online discussion of video game violence grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Jack Thompson approaches 1

Re: Rampage Shooter Willed PlayStation 3 to Roommate in Suicide

Submitted by DeepThorn on Tue, 01/27/2009 - 21:56.

Yeah, unquestionably psychological melt down... I wonder if there is a way to monitor people's playing to figure out a trend of people with psychological problems to give an absolute warning of things like this...

Nido Web Flash Tutorials AS2 and AS3 Tutorials for anyone interested.
How to set Xbox 360 Parental Controls

Re: Rampage Shooter Willed PlayStation 3 to Roommate in Suicide

Submitted by sortableturnip on Wed, 01/28/2009 - 15:13.

In the update, the news service says: "Police said he did not have a concealed weapons permit."

Um...DUH!!!

Rest in Peace Ayala....

Sortableturnip's Law: As an online discussion of video game violence grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Jack Thompson approaches 1

Re: Portland Shooter Willed PS3 to Roommate in Suicide Note

Submitted by Shadow D. Darkman on Mon, 01/26/2009 - 22:17.

Oh, Jesus, now I want to go to Portland and talk with Erik. Can someone get me tickets, and a place to stay until he comes around?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Game on, brothers and sisters." -Leet Gamer Jargon

-----------------------------

"A Chrono Trigger is anything that unleashes its will or desire to change history!" -Gaspar

Shout box

Zen: http://www.airforcetimes.com/article/20130614/OFFDUTY02/306140030/New-Xbox-sin-against-all-service-members-06/18/2013 - 7:33pm

Zen: Been out for a few days, but has anyone brought up the possible ban on Xbox One on military bases because of security concerns that it could be a listening device by Commanders?06/18/2013 - 7:33pm

Andrew Eisen: Sleaker - Fixed.06/18/2013 - 6:34pm

MechaTama31: CMiner: Another issue is that every camera/webcam combination is going to be pretty different, in terms of the software/hardware exploits available. A homogenous hardware/software combo like a console, in millions of homes, will be a much juicier target.06/18/2013 - 6:31pm

Sleaker: Vox pay what you want link is busted.06/18/2013 - 6:27pm

ZippyDSMlee: Mics have to breath put tape over it.06/18/2013 - 6:25pm

NyuRena: You nailed it James! Yikes..06/18/2013 - 1:56pm

james_fudge: With MS willing to share with the government, an always listening device should give everyone pause.06/18/2013 - 1:37pm

james_fudge: you can't turn off the Microphone on the Kinect and it has to be plugged in. It's not rocket science.06/18/2013 - 1:35pm

E. Zachary Knight: The Humble Bundle Guys just don't like me having money in my pocket do they? https://www.humblebundle.com/06/18/2013 - 1:12pm

E. Zachary Knight: CMiner, I know that my Android camera is off unless I am using an application that turns it on. Same with the microphone.06/18/2013 - 12:38pm

CMiner: Can you turn off the camera on an iPhone? Like, -really- turn it off, not just change a setting that -tells- you the camera is off?06/18/2013 - 12:13pm

james_fudge: when they make it a requirement, yes they are06/18/2013 - 12:10pm

CMiner: I just don't think Microsoft bears any more (or less) responsibility for privacy with its Kinect camera than do the makers of laptops or smartphones with integrated cameras.06/18/2013 - 12:00pm

Imautobot: The ability to operate the console without the camera is key. It's a peripheral, not directly integrated into the console, and yet it behaves as if it is. Thankfully I don't have kids, and won't have an Xbone either.06/18/2013 - 11:49am

CMiner: Oh, I agree that the decision to make the kinect mandatory/always listening is terrible.06/18/2013 - 11:48am

E. Zachary Knight: CMiner, and the easier the provider makes to do such things, the better. The fact that the XBone will not even funtion without it plugged in and turned on in some fashion makes a world of difference from a PC Webcam.06/18/2013 - 11:38am

CMiner: It takes steps on the user's part to ensure 100% privacy (unplugging, uninstalling, putting tape over it, not putting it in the kid's rooms, etc)06/18/2013 - 11:29am

CMiner: My point is that no webcam producing company can guarantee that no one will ever ever ever be able to access video from that webcam without your knowledge and permission06/18/2013 - 11:28am

E. Zachary Knight: Of course at that point, you are still opening up yourself to Windows zero day vulnerabilities and back doors that they are happy to share with the government before Windows users.06/18/2013 - 11:26am

All shouts

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