Gonzo journalist shoots himself

Infamous US author and journalist Hunter S Thompson died of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head at his home in Aspen, Colorado yesterday (20 February 2005).

Thompson, 67, was found by his son Juan at Owl Creek farm, where the writer indulged his passion for guns, on and off its shooting range.

Thompson made his name as the creator of 'Gonzo' journalism, a mixture of fact and fiction and biting satire and no objectivity. He is most famous as the author of "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas", the tale of a drug-fuelled weekend spent in Las Vegas by Raoul Duke, a character with more than a little of the author's own personality.

He was a also a long-standing journalist for The Rolling Stone magazine and had a column published on the sports site ESPN.com. He last posted to the site on 15 February, ironically about inventing a new game with Bill Murray, involving shotguns.

Thompson leaves behind his second wife of two years Anita Beymunk, his son Juan and a grandson.

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