|
Man’s body found near his burning home
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 2:56 PM EST
By Lisa Andrews, Staff Writer
SKIPWITH — The Chase City Volunteer Fire Department and the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office discovered a dead body Sunday afternoon, while trying to extinguish a house fire, officials said.
An E-911 call around 12:35 p.m. regarding a house fire on Rocky Mount Road in Skipwith sent the fire department to the home of William Patrick Harris, 47.
Chief Marvin Hatcher said that when he arrived at the home less than five minutes after the dispatch the house was fully engulfed. He said fire was coming out of the front and back of the home.
Upon further investigation of the scene, Harris’ body was discovered in the back yard, according to police. The Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office said Monday, “A preliminary investigation puts the cause of death as a gunshot wound to the chest.”
The sheriff’s office said a shotgun was found with the victim. Officials suspect suicide. The body has been sent to the Commonwealth’s Medical Examiner’s Office in Richmond for autopsy, officials said.
The sheriff’s office said when the deputies arrived on the scene they noticed the house, a boat and an out building on fire. They said Harris apparently set all three on fire before he took his own life.
Hatcher said he would like to thank the Mecklenburg County E-911 dispatchers for their assistance as well as the Boydton Volunteer Fire Department, the Clarksville Volunteer Fire Department and the Boydton Rescue Squad.
|
