Suspected suicide victim at county building was public defender

Police haven't released name

SANDUSKY — Police have not released the name of a man who died at the Erie County office building Wednesday, or provided any further detail about the circumstances.

But indications are the man was an attorney who worked for public defender’s office. Police said he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head at around 7 a.m.

“I am truly heartbroken to learn of the death of a man who I truly learned to respect and love (as a friend) for his dedication to his work and his criminal clients,” Common Pleas Judge Beverly McGookey wrote in a post at Facebook expressing condolences.

Police have not said if the he left a note or if they’ve learned anything about why he might have turned the gun on himself. He’s listed as having worked for the public defender’s office for 21 years.