Durango man, 49, found dead Sunday in his home

Man dies from apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound

Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2017 7:10 PM

A 49-year-old man was found dead Sunday in a Durango West II home from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff’s spokesman Dan Bender said a woman called around 10:40 a.m. to report her husband had shot himself.

Bender said emergency responders were unable to revive Michael Passalaqua.

La Plata County Coroner Jann Smith said Passalaqua had a history of depression. She said an autopsy will be performed Monday.

If officially ruled a suicide, Passalaqua’s death marks the 12th suicide this year in La Plata County.

jromeo@durangoherald.com

For help

Help for people having suicidal thoughts or for those who fear a person is considering killing himself can be found from these sources:
Axis Health System: 24-hour hotline at 247-5245.
National Suicide Prevention Hotline: (800) 273-TALK (8255).
RED Nacional de PrevencióN Del Suicidio: (888) 628-9454.
National Crisis text Hotline: 741741
Boys Town Hotline: (800) 448-3000.
Safe2Tell Colorado: (877) 542-7233 or online at https://safe2tell.org.
Colorado Crisis Support Line: (844) 493-8255. The line has mental-health professionals available to talk to adults or youths about any crisis.
Second Wind Fund: (720) 962-0706. This is not a crisis hotline, but the fund is available to youths who face social or financial barriers to crisis counseling. The organization requires a referral by a school counselor or mental-health professional.