A 62-year-old Durango man who was under investigation for leaving a vulgar letter on the windshield of a car parked at the Durango Community Recreation Center was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound Tuesday.
Earlier this month, Durango Police announced it was investigating who may have left the profane and at times vividly racist note, which included pointed political and personal attacks.
The note was found Nov. 10 on the windshield of Michael Berry’s car about 2 p.m., after he and his wife spent about an hour in the rec center. Disturbed by the contents of the note, Berry contacted police.
“Whoever this suspect was made it personal,” Durango Police Cmdr. Ray Shupe said at the time. “They weren’t just attacking an ideology. They were making personal attacks.”
Durango Police were able to obtain tape from a video surveillance camera that is set up outside the rec center, which captured video of a man later identified as Thomas Petit leaving the note on Berry’s car.
Durango Police Cmdr. Jacob Dunlop said Wednesday that officers contacted Petit on Tuesday afternoon by phone. Dunlop said Petit admitted to leaving the note on Berry’s car.
Petit then agreed to go to the Durango Police station on Wednesday morning to discuss the incident.
Dunlop said the officer who spoke with Petit on Tuesday said he displayed no indication of grief. Instead, Dunlop said Petit was “cordial” and “cooperative.”
However, hours later, Petit was found unresponsive at his home in the Dalton Ranch subdivision.
According to La Plata County Coroner Jann Smith, authorities received a call from Petit’s wife around 4:45 p.m. Tuesday that Petit was unresponsive.
Petit was pronounced dead about 7 p.m., Smith said. An autopsy will be performed Monday.
The La Plata County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the case, according to a prepared statement.
jromeo@durangoherald.com
Suicide resources
Help for people having suicidal thoughts or for those who fear a person is considering killing himself can be found from these sources:
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
.
Colorado Crisis Support Line: (844) 493-8255 or text “TALK” to 38255 or online at
http://www.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.
Southern Ute Community ACtion Program: Visit
and click on Suicide Prevention for a list of trained gatekeepers.
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 La Plata County Fairgrounds, 2500 Main Ave. Contact Janna for information at (970) 749-1673.
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: Colorado chapter information available at
https://afsp.org/chapter/afsp-colorado/
For Men: A website for adult men contemplating suicide, who often are unwilling to seek help, is available at
.
