BRUNSWICK – The Naval Criminal Investigative Service is reviewing Sunday’s apparent suicide by a 21-year-old sailor who was in custody at Brunswick Naval Air Station.

Christopher Purcell, a Navy corpsman, was found dead from a gunshot wound shortly after base personnel responded to a call from Purcell’s family and friends warning that he was distraught.

Six security officers arrived at Purcell’s apartment at Building 731 on Fitch Avenue sometime before 9:47 p.m. According to Brunswick police, who began the investigation prior to its being taken over by NCIS, Purcell had been detained at his residence by base security.

Police Cmdr. Richard Desjardins said Purcell apparently died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound while he was in the bathroom of his apartment. Desjardins said a base security officer was in the bathroom at the time of the shooting. Desjardins added that a struggle occurred prior to Purcell’s death, but it’s unclear if the fight occurred in the bathroom or when security arrived.

“The circumstances of the case are now being investigated by NCIS,” BNAS spokesman John James said, adding that he couldn’t say how long Purcell had been detained or what base security had planned to do with him.

According to police records, Brunswick police received a 9:47 p.m. call from BNAS security after Purcell had shot himself. An emergency medical services team arrived at 9:51 p.m. and attempted life-saving measures. Purcell was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.

The incident raises questions about a recent decision by the Department of Defense to no longer allow base personnel to be deputized and trained by local law enforcement agencies. Prior to October, on-base arrests at BNAS were handled by two DoD detectives who held reserve status in the Brunswick Police Department. Now Brunswick police must be called to the base to enforce Maine laws.

Desjardins said the DoD detectives were not present during Sunday’s incident and that Brunswick police were not called to the base until after Purcell shot himself.

James said the six-man security team that detained Purcell included four civilian guards and two masters-at-arms.

It’s unclear if Purcell was searched for weapons or restrained by the security detail, a measure police typically take in suicide situations.

“These people can have knives or guns, so our first priority is to control the situation and dictate the pace,” Desjardins said, adding that suicidal individuals are typically taken to a medical care facility and held there.

“At that moment, the individual really does want to die,” Desjardins said. “But once the emergency is over, they’re often thankful that we intervened.”

Desjardins said Brunswick police typically handle 200 to 300 protective custody cases yearly.

It wasn’t known how Purcell was able to bring a firearm into his living quarters.

According to James, BNAS personnel are not allowed to bring privately owned weapons onto base property. He said security personnel are required to check their service weapons, and added that Purcell, who worked at the base’s medical clinic, would not have been issued a weapon by the Navy.

Purcell served in the Navy since July 2005 and reported to BNAS in March 2006. James said BNAS was Purcell’s first assignment. He had not been deployed overseas.

Purcell, whose immediate family is in Illinois, lived alone in condominium-style housing near the BNAS field house.

Copy the Story Link