Cyclists Discover Suicide Victim At Overlook

On Saturday, June 20th, three local cyclists enjoying a morning ride along Rim Rock Drive discovered a man’s body near Red Canyon Overlook and called 911. Responding rangers found the body and closed the overlook to public access. The victim was found to be a 39-year-old man from Grand Junction who had shot himself near the overlook, then fallen below it. He left a suicide note. Park rangers were assisted at the scene by Mesa County Sheriff's Department deputies and Glade Park Volunteer Fire Department personnel. Mesa County's coroner arrived a few hours later to remove the body, so the overlook remained closed for several hours. Additional park staff were dispatched to the overlook to assist and redirect visitors who were driving or cycling to the popular overlook on a busy Saturday morning during the first "fee free weekend" of the summer. This marks the first suicide actually committed this year in the park despite a rash of suicide attempts, and, fortunately, dozens of successful and sometimes heroic suicide interventions by park rangers and visitor use assistants.