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Newtown, CT (WFSB) — The body of a man whose child was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting was found at the Newtown Town Hall Monday morning.
According to police, 49-year-old Jeremy Richman died of an apparent suicide.
The Newtown Police Department confirmed the death on its Facebook page.
The cause was not released.
Police only mentioned that Richman’s death did not appear to be suspicious.
His body was transported to the state medical examiner’s office for an autopsy, which is expected to be completed by later in the day on Monday.
Police said Richman has an office in the Edmond Town Hall and is the founder of the Avielle Foundation.
Avielle Richman was among the 26 students and staff who were killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012.
“This is a heart breaking event for the Richman family and the Newtown Community as a whole, the police department’s prayers are with the Richman family right now, and we ask that the family be given privacy in this most difficult time,” said Lt. Aaron Bahamonde, Newtown police.
Sen. Chris Murphy took to Twitter where he called Richman’s death horrible and devastating news.
“Jeremy was a good friend and an unceasing advocate for better research into the brain’s violence triggers,” Murphy wrote. “He was with me in my office two weeks ago, excited as could be about the Avielle Foundation’s latest amazing work.”
This is the third suicide with a mass shooting-related connection to be reported in the last week.
Sydney Aiello, 19, took her own life on March 17, according to her mother. Aiello was a close friend of Meadow Pollack, who was one of 17 people killed in the shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL last year.
Aiello’s mother blamed post traumatic stress disorder and survivor’s guilt.
A second student also committed suicide. The student’s name was not released, but police said he was a sophomore at Marjory Stoneman Douglas.
Anyone looking for help can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. It’s available 24 hours a day.
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