Dead body found in park near Moorpark College campus
Gunshot wound appears self-inflicted

A man out for a walk with his dog found the body of a young man at College View Park at Campus Park and Collins drives in Moorpark early Sunday morning.

Authorities confirmed the man was a Moorpark resident in his 20s. He'd apparently used a handgun to commit suicide, according to Dep. Tim Lohman of the Moorpark Police Department.

The body was found by resident Mike McCoy, who usually goes to the park on weekend mornings to walk his dog.

At first, McCoy assumed the young man lying on the ground was sleeping off a night of drinking because that type of thing occurs in the park from time to time.

When he approached the person to escort him out of the park before children came to play, McCoy noticed the man was resting on wet grass and his skin was unusually pale. When he then saw a gun next to the body, he went to call authorities, he said.

Given the nature of the incident and in consideration of the man's family, authorities declined to give his name.

McCoy said his heart goes out to the parents of the young man.

"It was sad. I'm sorry for their loss," he said.

- - Sylvie Belmond