On July 23, 1992, Thomas Paniccia, an Air Force sergeant, announced he was gay on national television. On the anniversary of that day 15 years later, Paniccia drove to an undeveloped cul-de-sac in Roseville several blocks from his home and waited to die.
![]()
Thomas Paniccia, who earned multiple commendations in the U.S. Air Force, announced he was gay in 1992 in a challenge to the military's "don't ask, don't tell" rule. Fifteen years later, to the day, he committed suicide.
![]()
David Larson, above, rented a room to Tom Paniccia and was his friend. Paniccia, who was expelled from the Air Force when he revealed he was gay, committed suicide 15 years later. Larson says Paniccia was conflicted over his homosexuality and his religious views.
![]()
The Rev. Donald Baird, Paniccia's pastor at Fremont Presbyterian Church, blames media pressure for Paniccia's suicide.
