Visitor Fatality from Apparant Suicide

Contact: Tom VandenBerg

BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK, TX - At approximately 4:00 PM on Wednesday, November 27, the Big Bend National Park Communication Center received a 911 call from a group of hikers reporting a gunshot and a seriously injured visitor at the summit of Emory Peak.

Aerial assets were quickly mobilized. With the support of helicopters from U.S. Customs Air and Marine Operations and TX Department of Public Safety, a Park Ranger reached the mountaintop and located the body of a 35-year-old man from Florence, TX. With diminishing daylight, the park ranger remained on scene throughout the night. The next morning, a team of park rangers and a TX Department of Public Safety officer were able to recover the body by helicopter. Cause of death was determined to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The body was transported to Alpine Memorial Funeral Home on Thursday. No further information is available at this time.

"The entire park community is saddened by this loss," said Superintendent Anjna O'Connor. "Our sympathy goes out to the individual's family and friends. This was a challenging response for our rangers and partners during one of the park's busiest times, and I wish to extend my deep gratitude for our amazing team for their professional efforts."
At 7,832 feet, Emory Peak is the highest point in Big Bend National Park. Hiking the strenuous 5-mile trail to the summit is a popular visitor activity.