Man committs suicide; deputies find ski mask, guns in car
Web Producer: Daniel Dominguez
TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) - A 54-year-old California man killed himself in the San Simon area Thursday after deputies attempted to speak to him, and they believe he may have been involved in criminal activity in Tucson.
According to Carol Capas with Cochise County Sheriff's Office, a deputy saw a car with Canadian license plates parked in a pull out of the frontage road of I-10 near mile post 382.
As the Deputy approached the vehicle, he saw Kirk Owen Luethy inside the vehicle who seemed disoriented and nervous.
The deputy asked for his identification and for him to step out of the vehicle, at which Luethy put the vehicle into gear and sped off.
Luethy went off the side of the road and struck a tree, while still holding down the accelerator and creating a small grass fire from the wheels turning.
As the Deputy approached the vehicle, he noticed Luethy holding a 9mm handgun as he shot himself under the chin, Capas said.
Deputies were able to turn off the vehicle and extinguish the fire from underneath.
During the vehicle search, deputies found additional firearms, loose ammunition, money, a ski mask, binoculars, gloves, a wig and makeup.
It is believed by investigators that Luethy may be connected to other criminal activity in the Tucson area.
The investigation is being continued by the Cochise County Sheriff's Office in cooperation with the FBI and ATF.
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