An building inspector who surveyed a Philadelphia building just days before it collapsed and killed six has committed suicide, a city spokesman said Wednesday.
Deputy Mayor Everett Gillison said the 52-year-old man was found dead in a truck on Wednesday evening. He died from what appeared to be a self-inflicted bullet wound, police said in a CBS report. The man, whose name is not being released, texted his wife before shooting himself in the chest, CBS reported. He worked for the Department of Licenses and Inspections and had surveyed the building on May 14, USA Today reported.
The building was being demolished but collapsed onto an adjacent Salvation Army thrift shop. Two employees and four customers were killed in the June 5 incident.
Police suggest that a heavy equipment operator was under the influence of marijuana when the collapse occurred, CBS reported. City prosecutors have set up a grand jury to investigate and look at possible charges.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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