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Police release identity of person of interest found dead by apparent suicide at Swan Creek Metropark

Two people close to Ryan Thames, a person of interest in a homicide, had told police he was armed at the park and planning to take his own life.

TOLEDO, Ohio — The search for a person of interest in the homicide of Rudy Gonzalez ended Monday evening as Toledo police found the suspect deceased from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound at Swan Creek Metropark.

RELATED: TPD investigating city's latest homicide after man was found shot in the backyard of a west Toledo home

A woman called 911 Monday around 3:45 p.m. to report the father of her child, Ryan Thames had called her and told her he was at Swan Creek Metropark and was planning to kill himself, according to police.

The woman gave police a description of Thames but could not provide details on what he was wearing. She added he had a gun on him.

Police responded and immediately issued a warning via Twitter, asking the public to avoid the area of the park. They cleared guests and closed off entrances as they searched for the man.

Metropark Toledo Rangers were also advised and started searching the park. They were able to find a friend of Thames, who told them he was at the park and planning to kill himself.

Toledo Fire and Rescue Department was called to the scene in case someone was injured. 

Crews formed search teams and dispersed throughout the park. At 4:59 p.m., officers heard a single gunshot and communicated over the radio. At 6:02 p.m., a Toledo police sergeant and two Metroparks officers located Thames.

Thames was found dead from an apparent gunshot wound on an unmarked, primitive trail near the middle of the park adjacent to Swan Creek itself. 

RIGHT NOW: Toledo Police ask people to avoid Swan Creek Metropark as they search for a homicide suspect and clear the area. Tyler Paley is on scene ⬇️

Posted by WTOL NEWS 11 on Monday, August 24, 2020

Police were able to retrieve a firearm at the scene. 

"He's gonna go to the coroner's office. Appears to be a suicide like the social media post said and you'll probably get a whole lot of more information tomorrow after the autopsy," TPD Lt. Dan Gerken said during an update to media on the scene.

It's unclear if the autopsy has been concluded yet as its results have not been released to the press yet. 

Around a dozen family members and friends of the deceased man were on the scene.

Gonzales was shot in the backyard of his home at the 1500 block of Eleanor Avenue in west Toledo Sunday. Police say he and his and his fiancé, Victoria Cluckey, had two guests at their home that morning: Thames and a female friend of Cluckey's.

During the course of that day, Gonzalez and Thames got into a verbal altercation. At one point during the altercation, Thames went to a vehicle, got a firearm, and returned to the backyard where he shot Gonzalez, according to police. 

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