Pioneer Park death ruled a suicide

LA CONNER — The Skagit County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Friday afternoon that the 19-year-old Whidbey Island man found dead in a car in Pioneer Park in La Conner in the early afternoon June 23 committed suicide.

Tobin Meyer, chief criminal deputy with the Sheriff’s Office, said in a phone call that it was a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Investigators believe the death to be consistent with a suicide.

Officers responded at 1:29 p.m. to a 911 call from a passerby in the park. They found the victim slumped over from a possible gunshot wound and apparently dead. Detectives went to investigate and process the scene and were there till at least 6 p.m.

An autopsy performed June 25 confirmed that the male died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. The Skagit County Coroner’s office will determine the formal manner of death.

La Conner Hook and Ladder and Fire District 13 also responded at 1:29 p.m. and Swinomish police at 1:40 p.m.