Police are investigating but say no foul play is suspected after a man was found dead, prompting a water rescue response, along Lake Michigan in a nature preserve in Lake Forest Monday morning.
The Lake Forest Police Department and Lake Forest Fire Department responded around 9:52 a.m. Monday to the area of Fort Sheridan Beach, 10 Cliff Road in Highland Park, for a report of a person shot.
The 911 caller reported a victim was suffering from a gunshot wound but did not see a gun at the scene, according to fire department radio traffic.
Lake Forest Deputy Police Chief Kevin Zelk said a witness observed an individual suffer a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The Lake County Forest Preserve Police Department, Highland Park Fire Department and Highland Park Police Department were also called to the scene.
Responding officers located a deceased male along the Lake Michigan shoreline, Zelk said.
The incident occurred within the Jean and John Greene Nature Preserve in Lake Forest north of the Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve, Zelk said.
A fire department water rescue response was dispatched and firefighters removed the victim from the water on a boat and brought him back to shore.
Detectives with the Lake Forest Police Department responded to the scene along with investigators from the Lake County Coroner’s Office to process evidence.
“Based on the preliminary investigation, there is no indication of any threat to the public and foul play is not suspected,” Zelk said.
“To preserve the integrity of the investigation, no additional information will be released at this time,” he said.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office will release the identity of the victim once formal notifications have been made.