The Durango Police Department is investigating a suspicious death that occurred Sunday behind Walmart in Durango.
Police and medics were notified at 2:50 p.m. of an unconscious man not breathing and blue in color. Someone on scene began CPR efforts until medics arrived. Medics continued CPR efforts, but life-saving measures were ultimately unsuccessful, said Cmdr. Jacob Dunlop with the Durango Police Department.
“There were some potential suspicious circumstances, which are leading us to conduct a thorough investigation before we make a determination as to whether it was natural causes or not,” Dunlop said.
The victim had lived in the area for “a little while,” Dunlop said. An identification card listed a Durango address, but it was unknown if he was currently living at that address.
The man associated with members of the homeless community, and he was found in a tent behind Walmart, but the tent did not belong to the victim, Dunlop said.
Police planned to conduct further interviews before making a determination about cause of death.
“Several people were on scene with him and had been around the patient, so we have been interviewing them,” Dunlop said.
La Plata County Coroner Jann Smith said an autopsy is expected to occur this week, maybe as soon as Tuesday.
shane@durangoherald.com