Jared McLemore pictured on his Facebook page.
A Memphis musician committed suicide on Facebook Live. His ex-girlfriend says it was an act of “revenge.” The video was streamed on Jared McLemore’s Facebook page at 12:30 a.m. on May 13. He was sitting in the parking lot of Murphy’s bar in Tennessee, where is ex works. McLemore sits cross legged in the video at the beginning. He leaves for a moment and returns with a red can. McLemore pours kerosene over himself. A man attempts to stop McLemore from lighting himself on fire but fails. Flames engulf the screen as the hollering can be heard from those watching. Jared McLemore was 33 years old.
If you, or anybody you know, is depressed or considering suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 1-800-273-8255.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. McLemore Died at a Local Hospital a Few Hours After Setting Himself on Fire
A good Samaritan attempted to save McLemore by kicking the lighter out his hand, shown here. (Live Leak)
WREG reports that while the fire burned, McLemore ran into Murphy’s bar. His ex-girlfriend, Alyssa Moore, had been working on the soundboard during a gig at the bar. While he was doing this, attendees attempted to put the fire out with beer cups and whatever else they could get their hands on.
McLemore was then rushed to a nearby hospital where he succumbed to his severe burns. A good Samaritan who attempted to kick the lighter from McLemore’s hand was also treated for burns but is expected to survive. That man has been identified as a Murphy’s patron named Paul Garner.
A member of the band who had been playing prior to McLemore’s suicide, Kimberly Koehler of Billie Dove, told WREG, “It looked like a movie, like someone wearing a flame-retardant suit. There were some people who thought that it was a joke.”
While a witness told WREG, “[McLemore] wanted it to go down in some sick way and for everybody to see it.”
2. A Go Fund Me Page for McLemore’s Ex-Girlfriend Refers to McLemore as ‘Extremely Abusive & Unstable Ex-Boyfriend’
McLemore’s ex-girlfriend Alyssa Moore pictured on a Go Fund Me page.
Speaking to Fox Memphis, Alyssa Moore said that McLemore committed suicide because she refused to put up with his abuse. Moore said McLemore chose to commit suicide outside of her workplace so she “could see the horror for herself.”
A Go Fund Me page for Moore has raised nearly $25,000 at the time of writing. That page says that May 12 had been Moore’s first day back at work since ending her relationship with McLemore. It says that after he dosed himself in kerosene, McLemore went to Moore and said “something about ‘goodbye.'” McLemore then made Moore smell him so she knew he was covered in kerosene.
Prior to his suicide, the creator of the page accuses McLemore of breaking into Moore’s home and threatening her with a gun. This came after a separate attack that “almost killed” Moore.
The Go Fund Me page is designed to help Moore pay for trauma therapy following the abuse she suffered at the hands of McLemore.
3. Prior to the Video, the Last Visible Post on McLemore’s Facebook Page Read, ‘Erased & Forgotten’
McLemore’s final visible Facebook update.
The last visible update on McLemore’s Facebook page reads, “Erased and Forgotten.” That was posted on May 10. McLemore describes himself as being in a relationship since April 2014 on the page. McLemore was a native of Lavinia, Tennessee. He was a producer and engineer at Move the Air Audio and Ardent Studios.
4. McLemore Was Sentenced to Probation in April 2017
McLemore pouring the kerosene on his body. (Live Leak)
McLemore had been sentenced to probation in April 2017 for strangling and threatening to kill Moore. reports WREG. As a result, McLemore was ordered to undergo therapy. He was arrested for different incidents involving Moore over the course of two days in August 2016. Around that time, McLemore wrote on his Facebook:
Alyssa Moore is a rad vocalist and engineer.
While a friend replied saying, “You’re not kidding about Alyssa’s vocals.”
On his Facebook page, McLemore made references to being diagnosed with bipolar.
5. This Is Just the Latest Tragic Suicide to Be Streamed Live Online
Katelyn Nichole Davis pictured on her Facebook page.
In March 2017, USA Today reported that Facebook was taking steps to curb the amount of suicides that are being live streamed. The newspaper said that Facebook was implementing “live-chat support from crisis support organizations.” While it’s also speculated that Facebook is testing artificial intelligence tools to help warn administrators of suicidal behavior. In December 2016, Katelyn Nicole Davis live streamed her suicide. She was 12 years old.
More recently, on Easter Sunday 2017, Steve Stephens shot-and-killed a 74-year-old man on Facebook Live. The video went viral and sparked a near-nationwide search for the suspect.
