60-year-old La Plata County man dies of gunshot wound

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A 60-year-old La Plata County man died Wednesday from a gunshot wound, according to the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff’s Office spokesman Chris Burke said authorities responded to an emergency call around 7:20 p.m. in the 14000 block of U.S. Highway 550, near the top of Farmington Hill south of Durango.

Once at the scene, officers found a man with an apparent gunshot wound inside the residence, Burke said.

The man was unresponsive, but still breathing and had a pulse. Emergency personnel began life-saving measures, Burke said, and the man was taken to Mercy Regional Medical Center.

The man, identified as Bobby Joe Smith, later died at Mercy, Burke said.

“The gunshot appears to be self-inflicted, however the coroner will make the final determination,” he said.

Burke said it appeared Smith worked in the area for at least the past two years as a rancher.

La Plata County Coroner Jann Smith said he lived with his common-law wife.

“He was in good condition, but I think he had some issues going on,” she said. “He was a pretty nice guy, from what I hear.”