Two men died by suicide last week in Cherokee County, adding to the growing list of preventable, premature deaths.
A 23-year-old man from Haywood County died from an apparent gunshot wound to the head on May 27. A citizen discovered his body inside a vehicle parked outside the BP gas station at the intersection of U.S. 19/74 and N.C. 141 in Marble.
Surveillance cameras from outside the convenience store and Mountain Credit Union recorded the man parking in the lot during the early morning hours before daylight. Police officials were dispatched to the scene around 2 p.m., after a passerby peered inside the vehicle for a closer look.
“His seat was reclined so no one noticed him until a passerby did a double take,” Chief Deputy Sheriff Joe Wood said. “We found him deceased with a gunshot wound to the head and a gun in his hand. Nobody got in the car and nobody left the car the whole time he was there.”
Law enforcement officials found writings in the car that show the man may have suffered from depression. Police say two of his family members recently passed away, and electronic messages show he communicated with loved ones just prior to his death.
Out of respect for the family, the Cherokee Scout is withholding the man’s name.
“We’re not done with our investigation, but there was nothing at all leading us to think we need to look for a suspect,” Wood said.
In addition, a 52-year-old Andrews resident died by suicide on the night of May 30. Police were dispatched to a house to quell a domestic issue and breached the property with a taser at-hand. The man then shoved a fillet knife into his sternum and died on the scene.
The man, whose name is being withheld out of respect for the family, struggled with drug addiction and depression, according to law enforcement officials, who say he was involuntarily confined to a hospital a few weeks ago.
“He attempted suicide before, but this time he was successful at it,” Andrews Police Chief Michael Hobgood said.
According to a U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention data brief published in April, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death for all ages in the United States. The suicide rate in America increased 35 percent from 1999-2018.
During that time span, suicide rates among women were highest for those aged 45–64; among men, the rates were highest for those ages 75 and over. In 2018, suicide rates were higher in the most rural counties compared with the most urban counties for both males and females, according to CDC data.
Experts say the majority of people feeling suicidal are dealing with situations that will pass with time, as long as they receive help. Friends and family members of depressed individuals are advised to:
- Listen without offering judgments.
- View suicidal tendencies as a cry for help.
- Encourage them to seek help for their depression.
- Ask questions about their suicidal feelings.
- u Remain in their company if they show signs of dangerous behavior.
- Warning signs of suicide include:
- Talking about death or suicide.
- Feelings of hopelessness.
- Withdrawal from friends and family.
- Loss of interest in activities.
- Extreme mood swings.
- Giving away possessions.
- Saying goodbye to family and friends.
People who have suicidal feelings and their loved ones are encouraged to call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.