Authorities say a man committed suicide outside the home of U.S. Representative Beth Van Duyne in suburban Dallas on Wednesday afternoon.
Irving police responded to a report of a shooting at around 3:45 p.m. local time, Officer Robert Reeves said. When they arrived, they found a man on the sidewalk who had taken his life with a gun.
Van Duyne was at home with a number of other people at the time, but did not witness the incident, Reeves said. They heard the shot and called 911 when they discovered the man on the sidewalk.
The medical examiner is busy identifying the man.
Researchers will look at the motive and how the man ended up in Van Duyne’s gated community.
Police said there is no reason to believe there is another threat to Van Duyne, a Republican. The FBI is assisting in the investigation.
Van Duyne’s spokesman said the congressman was “shocked and saddened that someone would take his own life. We have no further comment at this point,” said NBC Dallas-Fort Worth.
If you or someone you know is at risk of suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, text TALK at 741741, or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for more information.
