Katrina Madness

John McCusker is a New Orleans resident and part of the Pultizer prize-winning Times-Picayune staff. He worked for the paper for 20 years. He drove his car haphazardly through the streets of New Orleans. His goal was to get the NOPD to shoot him to death.

"The individual is a really fine professional who was so depressed that he set out today to commit suicide by cop," said James Arey, commander of the police negotiation team during SWAT and other emergency situations.

McCusker was arrested and taken into custody. He is currently under psychiatric observation. McCusker told the police, "Just kill me, get it over with, kill me."

In an audio interview for PRX, McCusker admits that Katrina made him start smoking cigarettes, again. He quitted 20 years ago. McCusker describes children begging him for food while he was covering the post-hurricane. "I had nothing for them," said McCusker

McCusker took a 3 month leave earlier this summer. He caught up on sleep and went to therapy three times a week.

"And some nights, you know, I gotta tell you. There are some nights just in despair you lay inbed and your a 3 year-old child, you just lay there and say 'Oh my God. I want to go home.' And you can't go home.

Hat tip to ColdChef at Metafilter.

Tags: katrina, John McCusker, Times-Picayune, Post-Traumatic Stress