A man from Durango who suffered a single gunshot wound to the head died by suicide, according to a medical investigator.
Joshua Gonzales, 18, shot himself early on Feb. 10 at the End-O-Days Motel, 350 East Eighth Avenue, in Durango.
A witness reported that Gonzales removed the magazine from the handgun, put the gun to his head and attempted to pull the trigger, according to the autopsy report that was released by the Office of the Medical Investigator in New Mexico.
The gun did not fire, and then Gonzales turned off the safety and pulled the trigger, firing the gun, the autopsy says. He collapsed and then became unresponsive.
With two other people inside the room at the time, police took several weeks to investigate if Gonzales shot himself or if someone inside the room played a role.
Lt. Ray Shupe with the Durango Police Department said Monday police investigators also have determined the death was a suicide.
Gonzales was airlifted to a hospital in Albuquerque where he was declared brain dead. He was pronounced dead at 2:22 p.m. Feb. 10.
shane@durangoherald .com
