Hartselle Police and the Morgan County Coroner have ruled that the death of business owner McKinley “Mack” Gardner was a suicide.

Lt. Justin Barley said Hartselle Police officers were dispatched to 1402 W. Main St. for a emergency call on Thur., July, 25, at 11:38 a.m. Gardner, 72, was found dead inside his residence. HPD Investigators and Coroner Jeff Chun were called in to investigate the circumstances of Gardner’s death.

“Evidence on the scene as well as evidence collected during a forensic autopsy confirmed that Mr. Gardner died of a self-inflicted gunshot,” Barley said in a press release. “HPD Investigators as well as the Morgan County Coroner have ruled Mr. Gardner’s death as a suicide. It is not common practice for HPD to release information on suicides, but Mr. Gardner was a well known businessman in Hartselle for many years. HPD felt it was necessary to release accurate information concerning his death to the public.”