Hundreds of mourning Peruvians flocked to the wake of former president Alan Garcia just hours after the two-time head of state dramatically shot himself in the head to avoid arrest.
Supporters of the 69-year-old's APRA party watched as their ex-leader's coffin was paraded through the group's headquarters in Lima last night.
The dead statesman's son and current partner wept during the service but defiant cries from the party faithful of 'APRA never dies!' also rang out.
Garcia, a formidable orator who was on the county's political frontline for three decades, served as Peru's president between 1985 and 1990 and latterly between 2006 and 2011.
But his second tenure was allegedly dogged with corruption and led to a criminal investigation which yesterday saw the ex-premier take his own life.
Nearly one thousand supporters crammed into the APRA party's Lima headquarters last night to pay respects to former president Alan Garcia who shot himself
They watched as their ex-leader's coffin was paraded into the atrium and through the crowds
Frederico Danton Garcia, his son, and Roxanne Cheesman, his partner, weep during the ceremony
As officers moved in to detain him, Garcia said that he needed to speak with his lawyer and then shut himself in his room before a firearm blast was heard.
He was rushed to Casimiro Ulloa hospital in the capital after officers discovered he had put a bullet in his skull.
The ex-premier fought for his life for around three hours, during which time he suffered multiple cardiac arrests and was resuscitated three times, before incumbent President Martinez Vizcarra confirmed his death.
Tributes from allies of Garcia have been pouring in, including from those who are defending his suicide.
Mauricio Mulder, an APRA congressman, said: 'Garcia made a decision as a free man. It was a decision of dignity and honor.'
And the party's co-general secretary, Omar Quesada, said: 'Alan Garcia has died, long live Apra.'
X-ray images purportedly show the gunshot wound left by the bullet which passed completely through his head.
The images have not been verified by MailOnline but the hospital monitor clearly shows yesterday's date and Garcia's full name.
Former Peruvian president (pictured in 2006) Alan Garcia shot himself in the head at his Lima home moments after police stormed in to arrest him for corruption charges
Dramatic X-ray images appear to show Garcia's skull hours before he died in hospital
A scan purports to show the gunshot wound left when the bullet passed through Garcia's head
Footage taken from yesterday morning purported to show police officers arriving at President Garcia's house
Garcia was sent to hospital at 6.45am local time yesterday and had been in the operating room since 7.10am.
Speaking to reporters about the moments leading up to the fatal shooting, interior Minister Carlos Moran revealed that Garcia had told police he needed to call his attorney after
