Missouri Auditor Tom Schweich, a leading Republican candidate for governor of the state, died Thursday of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported.
Schweich’s office confirmed the 54-year-old auditor’s death but did not state the cause.
“It is with great sadness that I confirm the passing of Missouri State Auditor Tom Schweich today,” spokesman Spence Jackson said in a statement, as quoted by the Post-Dispatch. “Please keep in mind his wife Kathy and two children.”
A police source told the newspaper that Schweich died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Schweich had arranged an interview with Post-Dispatch and Associated Press reporters hours before his death but was taken to an area hospital before that interview was scheduled to take place, according to the report. After he was taken to the hospital, Schweich’s office described the situation to the Post-Dispatch as a “medical situation.”
So, he was the leading candidate for governor in a relatively red state and had interviews scheduled for later that day. Knowing nothing at all about the guy, I’m going to assume he was playing with a gun and accidentally offed himself. Either that or he was about to be exposed for doing something horrible.
Those are the thoughts that immediately raced through my mind. Curiosity is rampant atm, but I do feel for his family, what a horrible shock and loss for them.
for once, I’ll merely offer a snark-free, speculation-free RIP.
Which is kind of weird because if it was an accident, someone already posted to his Wikipedia page that he committed suicide today. I find that most odd seeing how an investigation would have to determine that first, don’t you think? Someone is either quick to write it off as a suicide or they have something they’re not sharing with the public. And why would anyone choose to run for Governor and then turn around and commit suicide?
That’s what I was just thinking, especially given the general Conservative practice of ignoring or belittling safety concerns.
It’s odd that there isn’t any official statement on whether it was accidental or not.