Almost half of the firearm-related deaths in police custody between 1990 and 1997 were suicides. Male offenders who turned a firearm upon themselves when confronted by police were significantly more likely to have been involved in a domestic altercation prior to the confrontation than offenders who were shot by police. They were also more likely to have murdered their partner or estranged partner prior to suicide, and more likely to have been depressed or to have had some history of mental illness. While the availability of firearms should not be overlooked, major attention should be directed toward strategies and interventions to deal with the depression and mental illness resulting from the breakdown of intimate relationships. At the same time, restrictions on access to firearms by those who may be at risk of aggressive or violent behavior as a result of mental illness, or with a history of such behavior, must be enforced and maintained at an appropriate national level. Tables, notes, references