The La Plata County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a suspected suicide after finding a body Monday evening south of Durango with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
A passerby reported a body in a field around 5 p.m. near the intersection of La Posta Road (County Road 213) and Jack Rabbit Trail near the Animas Air Park, said Sheriff’s Office spokesman Chris Burke.
Investigators identified the body as that of a 57-year-old man, he said. The man had a Colorado driver’s license, said La Plata County Coroner Jann Smith.
Authorities declined to identify the man or a more specific residence until next of kin has been notified.
An autopsy is scheduled for Thursday, at which time more information is expected to be made available.
How to get help
Help for people having suicidal thoughts or for those who fear a person is considering suicide:
AXIS HEALTH SYSTEM: 24-hour hotline at 247-5245.
NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION HOTLINE: (800) 273-TALK (8255) or text “TALK” to 741741.
RED NACIONAL DE PREVENCIÓN DEL SUICIDIO: (888) 628-9454.
NATIONAL CRISIS TEXT HOTLINE: 741741
FORT LEWIS COLLEGE COUNSELING CENTER: 247-7212.
BOYS TOWN HOTLINE: (800) 448-3000.
SAFE2TELL COLORADO: (877) 542-7233 or online at
safe2tell.org
.
COLORADO CRISIS SUPPORT LINE: (844) 493-8255 or text “TALK” to 38255 or online at
coloradocrisisservices.org
to access a live chat available in 17 languages. The line has mental-health professionals available to talk to adults or youths about any crisis, 24 hours a day.
TREVOR PROJECT: (866) 488-7386. Crisis intervention and suicide prevention for LGBTQ youth via online chat, text or phone.
SECOND WIND FUND: (720) 962-0706. This is not a crisis hotline, but the fund is available to youths who face social or financial barriers to crisis counseling. The organization requires a referral by a school counselor or mental-health professional.
SURVIVORS SUPPORT GROUP: Heartbeat of Durango meets from 6 to 8 p.m. the second Wednesday of every month at the Grief Center, 2243 Main Ave., second floor. For more information, call Janna at 749-1673.
AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION: Colorado chapter information available at
afsp.org/chapter/afsp-colorado/
.
FOR MEN: A website for adult men contemplating suicide is available at
mantherapy.org
.
