How does one deal properly with a neighbor's suicide

Question

Yesterday, at about 5:30am, I overheard police breaking into my downstairs neighbor's apartment. Being curious about the commotion, I stepped outside to see if I could hear anything about the situation. Through the coded police chatter, I could only glean that the man living directly below us had taken his own life with a bullet to the head.

Strangely, I was awake at 5am (cats woke me up), and I did not hear a gunshot. Police mentioned that the man had called to report a drug overdose earlier that morning, so that meant he must've been alive to do it. The chronology of the incident disturbs me.

I did not know the man well. We'd only crossed paths twice in the year since I'd moved in, so it seems I should not be so deeply affected by his passing. Despite that, I cannot stop thinking about what happened.

Have you had anything like this happen to you? How does one deal with the death of a stranger without appealing entirely to callousness and apathy? Do you think it would be wrong for me to try and learn more?

Answer 1

As in, to talk to his family or friends about what happened?

Yeah. I do think it would be wrong. If you're feeling bad, think about how they're feeling. Maybe you can try and sneak into his apartment.

Answer 2

No it wouldn't be wrong to learn what you can. Knowledge will help you deal with the situation that much easier.

I think the key to answering you is to realize his soul has left the physical, and what you 'can' do is to send out your love, prayers, and healing thoughts to this person - hold an image of him in your mind's eye - who may very well need them at this critical time. It is through the mind you can communicate, like sending out a direct energy of love to him. It will help his spirit and he can move on. If you know any of the family you could send condolences to them, whatever works best in these circumstances.