PORT ANGELES — A woman who died in an apparent suicide on the Olympic Discovery Trail on Thursday was identified as Sheila R. Kettel, Port Angeles police said.
Kettel, 52, of Port Angeles, apparently shot herself in the head at 9/11 Waterfront Memorial Park, recently renamed from Francis Street Park, police said.
“We have no evidence at this time that it was anything other than a suicide,” Deputy Police Chief Jason Viada said.
Sgt. Josh Powless said the woman shot herself with a pistol on the waterfront trail where it passes through the park’s north end.
Powless said the suicide was witnessed by two individuals who were unknown to Kettel.
“They saw essentially the same thing,” Powless said.
“They saw a female walk out towards the water with a gun in her hand.
“When one of the witnesses asked her what she was doing, she walked away from that witness quickly and then shot herself,” he said.
The suicide was reported to police at 7:30 a.m.
The park was closed until 9:55 a.m. as police investigated.
The woman’s death was the second apparent suicide on city property this month and the third since June.
A 31-year-old Port Angeles man leaped to his death from the western Eighth Street bridge over the Tumwater Truck Route on Oct. 4, authorities said.
A 49-year-old Port Angeles man jumped to his death from the same bridge June 8, police said.
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 800-273-8255.
Peninsula Behavioral Health also has a 24-hour crisis line. Call 360-457-0431.
“We always have somebody in our crisis team available,” Peninsula Behavioral Health spokeswoman Rebekah Miller said.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56450, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
