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Tom Schweich dead from apparent suicide

CLAYTON, Mo. — State Auditor and 2016 candidate for governor, Tom Schweich, died on Thursday morning as the result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

At a brief press conference, Clayton Police Chief Kevin Murphy said police would continue to investigate and that an autopsy was scheduled for Friday morning. Murphy said that there was “nothing to suggest” the case was not a suicide, and that Schweich’s family was fully cooperating.

“What we know at this point suggests an apparent suicide,” Murphy said.

Clayton Police and emergency services were called to Schweich’s Clayton residence at 9:48 AM Thursday morning in connection with a gunshot wound. Schweich was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at BJC in Clayton.

Schweich, a Republican, was first elected in 2010 and sailed to an unchallenged re-election bid last year. Last month, he formally announced his candidacy for governor in 2016, setting up a primary against former House Speaker Catherine Hanaway.

Hours before his death, Schweich contacted reporters from the Associated Press and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, inviting them to his Clayton home for an interview which, according to the Post-Dispatch, concerned a “top GOP official” in Missouri “spreading false information” about Schweich’s gubernatorial bid.

Missouri lawmakers at every level and on both sides of the aisle issued statements mourning Schweich’s passing and offering prayers for his family.

He was 54 and is survived by his wife, Kathy, and his two children, Emilie and Thomas.