A New York man participating in a Masonic ritual was shot in the head and killed with a gun that was supposed to hold blanks.

William James, 47, was pronounced dead at the scene after the shooting Monday night.

A police spokesman said, “Apparently, this ritual has been conducted for a few years at this lodge.”

Not the ones with real bullets, we’re guessing.

Posted at April 29, 2004 04:41 PM