Man dies of apparent suicide near Amherst College

Amherst College called for a shelter in place while police looked for the individual

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(Collegian file photo)

By Hayley Johnson , Editor in Chief

An Amherst man “died of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound” near Groff Park late Wednesday night, according to the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office.

The Amherst Police Department and Massachusetts State Police responded to the area of Mill Lane near Groff Park after receiving reports of “an emotionally distraught man who had a firearm.”

Amherst College called for a “shelter in place” and tweeted that campus police were searching south of the College for a potentially suicidal person at 9:28 p.m. on Wednesday.

At 11:10 p.m. on Wednesday, Amherst College tweeted APD had located the individual and lifted the shelter in place. According to Mary Carey, communications director for the Northwestern District Attorney, the temporary lockdown was lifted at 10:45 p.m. that night.

Amherst College stated they did not believe the 27-year-old was associated with the school.

No foul play is suspected and there is no public safety concern, according to Carey. The matter remains under investigation.

Hayley Johnson can be reached at [email protected] and followed on Twitter @hayleyk_johnson.