Brookline Police Respond To Apparent Suicide Near Muddy River

BROOKLINE, MA — This morning just about 5:18 a.m. someone who was heading down the path that parallel's Pond Street and passes by the Muddy River's Leverett Pond came across a man in his 20's on a bench and called police. Police logged it as a medical emergency, and later tweeted that they were investigating an unattended death at 33 Pond Street.

"It's an unattended death, and there's no risk to the public," Deputy Superintendent Michael Gropman told Patch.

By 9 a.m. the scene was mostly cleared and people walking dogs, riding bicycles and running moved around the bench and what appeared to be a crime scene, which was marked with police tape. A police cruiser sat vigil with its lights on and occasionally the officer would ask that folks not try to duck under the tape.

Two women walking by pointed to a pool of blood under the bench. "Do you see the blood?," one said to the other.

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Police are officially calling it an unattended death of a man who was not from Brookline, stressing that it was an isolated incident and there is no risk to the public. "We don't suspect foul play," said Gropman, and added that as of 10: 38 a.m. the spot had been sanitized and reopened to the public.

When asked he did say that a gunshot was reported by someone nearby, though he could not say if the two were related. Police rarely discuss specific cases of suicide publicly. Gropman said he could release no further details until the next of kin were notified.

But the incident appears to be a suicide by shooting. And it comes at a time when the Brookline Police department are stepping up efforts to handle issues related to people in crisis.

"We began a critical incident team about two years ago. The number of people who are seen by the team is significant," said Gropman in a separate interview.

The Brookline police frequently receive phone calls from people concerned about loved ones threatening to commit suicide. Yesterday, at least two separate calls came into the station regarding just that. In one case a woman was taken to the hospital.

Such calls happen more often than one might realize. Earlier this year, several officers were recognized for their work talking down people who were threatening to kill themselves.

Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the U.S., according to the Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention. In the state people die by suicide 2 ½ times more often than by homicide and for every suicide death, it is estimated that there are at least 6 survivors, according to their website.

In 2014, 608 suicides occurred in Massachusetts. This number was greater than the number of deaths due to motor vehicles (328) and homicides (147) combined, according to the Massachusetts Department of Health which released a report in 2017. The report noted that although the state has one of the lowest suicide rates in the country, since the state began tracking them in 2003, suicides have been increasing.

And State data shows a strong correlation of mental health issues to those who threaten to commit or who succeed in committing suicide.

According to the most recent data, 54 percent of suicide victims in 2014 had a documented current mental health problem. And 44 percent had a history of treatment for mental illness, while only 38 percent were currently receiving treatment for a mental health or substance abuse problem.

RELATED: Police statement on helping people in crisis

Where to go for help

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MA Coalition for Suicide Prevention
(617) 297 – 8774
info@masspreventssuicide.org
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24 hour help lines

SAMARITANS A call or text
(877) 870 – HOPE (4673)
NATIONAL LIFELINE
(800) 273 – TALK (8255)
TTY: (800) 799 - 4TTY (4889)

Are you feeling desperate, alone or hopeless? Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) veterans press 1, a free, 24-hour hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Your call will be routed to the Veterans Hotline. VA crisis counselors answer the call 24-hours a day, 7 days a week. Some counselors are veterans and all counselors are trained to counsel veterans specifically.

Photos of the crime scene along the Muddy River in Brookline by Jenna Fisher/Patch