WARNING: This story contains graphic content.
SPOKANE, Wash. -- Spokane police detectives are investigative the death of a man who was shot in the head during sex.
Police were called to an apartment on North Morton Street on Nov. 4 around 2 a.m. on the report of a shooting, according to search warrant documents filed in Spokane County.
The caller said she was in a sadomasochistic sexual relationship with the victim, 22-year-old Ryan Cerge, documents said. The caller said Cerge shot himself in the head.
KREM 2 is not identifying the woman because she has not been named a suspect or charged with a crime. The two had been living together for just two weeks.
According to court documents, the woman said, “during their sexual activity a firearm was introduced and Cerge accidentally shot himself in the head.”
The woman told police that the two consumed alcohol, became highly intoxicated and started dancing. According to documents, the woman said Cerge laid her “down onto a mattress that was on the living room floor. He then smiled and said he was going to get his firearm.”
Documents said, “He returned with the firearm and held it to her head. He fired the gun while holding it with his left hand. The firearm failed to discharge. She flinched, and he punished her by slapping her with his right hand. He then rolled off of her and she got on top of him. He then put the gun to his own head and fired.”
The woman told police, “She has held the gun to his head and fired it while playing a ‘game.’ When that would happen she knew it wasn’t loaded. He has held the gun to her head in the past,” court documents said.
Homicide detectives are investigating the death.
Court documents state that Cerge was found lying on his back on the mattress, with his arms by his side, on top of a woman's purse.
"There was no apparent blood spatter on either hand," documents said.
Police were then able to search the home, but the woman would not let them look at her phone, court documents said. The woman told police her apprehension about having her cell phone searched was that there were some “compromising/uncomfortable messages and images” on it.
A detective wrote, "Based on my training and experience it isn't uncommon that individuals who engage in sadomasochistic sex will photograph and or video their encounters."
Police have obtained a search warrant to seize items including the gun, three cell phones, swabs for DNA, a note and bullet fragments from the apartment.
KREM 2 has reached out to the Spokane police detective who is investigating the case.
