APPARENT SUICIDE AT CHURCH

THE CHARLOTTE COUNTY SHERIFF’S MAJOR CRIMES UNIT IS INVESTIGATING A POSSIBLE SUICIDE AND ATTEMPTED SUICIDE OF TWO PEOPLE FOUND BEHIND A CHURCH AROUND 7:30 SUNDAY MORNING. A REPORT FROM THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE SAYS THE PASTOR OF FRIENDSHIP UNITED METHODIST CHURCH ON PARAMOUNT DRIVE IN TROPICAL GULF COVE ACRES SOUTH OF PUNTA GORDA FOUND THE BODIES WHEN HE ARRIVED AND CALLED THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE. DEPUTIES FOUND A WHITE MALE, WHO HAS NOT BEEN POSITIVELY IDENTIFIED, DEAD FROM A GUNSHOT WOUND TO THE HEAD. A WHITE FEMALE IDENTIFIED AS 57 YEAR OLD PATRICIA WHITE OF LAS VEGAS WAS FOUND CRITICALLY INJURED FROM A GUNSHOT WOUND TO THE HEAD. DETECTIVES ALSO FOUND A RIFLE AND SHOTGUN ON THE SCENE AS WELL AS A MAZDA SUV WITH LAS VEGAS PLATES.  WHITE WAS AIRLIFTED TO LEE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL TRAUMA UNIT – HER CONDITION IS NOT KNOWN. THE MAN WAS TAKEN TO THE CHARLOTTE COUNTY MEDICAL EXAMINER’S OFFICE FOR AN AUTOPSY. DETECTIVES SAY BOTH GUNSHOT WOUNDS APPEAR TO BE SELF INFLICTED THEY BELIEVE BOTH VICTIMS ARE FROM LAS VEGAS BUT AT ONE TIME LIVED IN CHARLOTTE COUNTY