Three men died from what appeared to be self-inflicted gunshot wounds over a four-day period this month in the city of Arnold. One man was found in a hotel room, one was found in a city park and one at his home, Arnold Police reported.
“It is unusual for us to see three (deaths by suicide) in as many days as this,” Detective Lt. Jason Valentine said. “Three in that many days is quite a bit.”
Overall, though, Arnold Police have not been receiving more reports of suicides this year, he said.
Valentine also said the most common cause of suicide Arnold Police see is self-inflicted gunshots.
The first man was found dead April 7 in a hotel room at WoodSpring Suites, 888 Arnold Commons Drive.
The other two men were found dead April 10. One of those two men was found slumped against a tree in a wooded area at Arnold City Park, 2400 Bradley Beach Road, and the other was found in his Arnold home, Arnold Police reported.
The man found in Arnold City Park was 25 years old and was from St. Louis County. An Arnold man found the body while walking through the park, and police said they found a .9-milimeter gun between the man’s legs, the report said.
Valentine said the 25-year-old man’s father told Arnold Police he had last seen his son at about 9 a.m. April 9 at their St. Louis County home.
The father also said his son had been receiving treatment following a suicidal episode in St. Louis County in February. After that incident, Arnold Police found the 25-year-old at the Drury Inn and Suites, 3800 Hwy. 141, and transported him to Mercy Hospital South in south St. Louis County for treatment, Valentine said.
If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, resources are available to help.
Behavioral Health Response has a crisis line at 1-800-811-4760. Or you may reach out to Comtrea from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 1-877-COMTREA.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available at 1-800-273-8255.
A crisis text line is available by texting HOME to 741741.
Resources also are available at suicidepreventionlifeline.org.