A family has revealed that a mother, who tragically ended her life using a legally-owned shotgun, had a sudden breakdown. Rachel Chapman-Emms, a 53-year-old legal assistant, was discovered by her parents at home after she did not show up for work. Despite being prescribed Prozac for depression, her GP was unaware of her possession of a shotgun for clay pigeon shooting.
Following an inquest into her death, Rachel’s sister, Joanna Emms, expressed that there was no evidence of premeditation in Rachel’s actions. It was believed to be a momentary breakdown where she impulsively used the gun. The family emphasized that had Rachel known about the potential suicidal side effects of Prozac, she would have removed the gun from her premises immediately.
The inquest revealed that Rachel, a resident of Pulham Market with teenage twins and an older son, had been struggling emotionally after a recent relationship breakup. Despite taking Prozac as prescribed and showing signs of improvement before her passing on July 21 the previous year, she had not expressed any suicidal thoughts.
Rachel, who had recently received a promotion at Leathes Prior Solicitors in Norwich, was described as a dedicated dog lover who was eagerly awaiting news about her dog’s potential pregnancy. It was noted during the inquiry that her GP records lacked a marker indicating her possession of a shotgun license, despite her legal ownership of the firearm.
Although her shotgun certificate application was approved by Norfolk Constabulary in January 2023, her GP records still indicated the application as “pending” at the time of her death, which raised concerns about the communication between medical records and firearms licensing.
After the coroner concluded that Rachel died by suicide, her family called for stricter regulations regarding firearms licensing and GP record-keeping. They expressed regret that a conversation about the shotgun with Rachel was not initiated by her healthcare provider or law enforcement, believing that she would have complied if instructed to remove the firearm.
If you or anyone you know needs support, the Samaritans are available 24/7 for confidential conversations. You can reach out to them at 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, or visit their website to find the nearest branch. Remember, your well-being matters.