The body of Chicago School Board President Michael Scott was found Monday morning in a foot of water along the Chicago River downtown with a .380-caliber handgun under his body, and a gunshot wound to his left temple.
Hours later, the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office ruled Scott’s death as a suicide.
Scott, 60, was reported missing by his family around midnight Monday, and was found at 3:15 a.m. near the Apparel Center, which houses the Chicago Sun-Times.
Detectives have not found a suicide note at the scene or at Scott’s home, and law enforcement sources said they are checking to see if Scott left one on his BlackBerry, which was found 30 feet from his body along with his blue Cadillac.
Police are tracking the registration of the gun found at the scene.
The Scott family and people close to Scott dispute the suicide ruling. Police will continue their investigation, said Police Superintendent Jody Weis.
Described as upbeat and as “the last person in the world to take his own life,” Scott was completing his second term as school board president.
Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, who has known Scott for more than 30 years, said that his death “is a shock for everyone.”
“He had a characteristic about working with people and reaching out to them and taking situations that were very, very flammable,” Daley said. “Michael was an extraordinary public servant. It’s very, very difficult to find out why it took place.”
U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan, the former CEO of the Chicago Public Schools, issued a statement, which said:
“Michael cared passionately about public education and made many courageous decisions as president of the Board. He gave his time, energy and talents to improving the life chances of children. Chicago has lost a great leader and the city’s school children have lost a devoted champion. I extend my deepest condolences to his wife and family.”
Junior finance major and Chicago native, Michael Jackson, was introduced to Scott at a neighborhood barbeque, and was among the other friends and family of Scott who were shocked of his sudden death.
“When I heard of [Michael Scott]’s suicide, it was extremely saddening,” Jackson said. “He was a great man who contributed a lot to the city of Chicago, and especially to the school system. This serves as a bigger loss for the Chicago Public School system.”
Earlier this year, Scott was subpoenaed by a federal grand jury investigating how students were selected for the Chicago Public School system’s selective-enrollment high schools.
Scott served as Chicago Park District superintendent, as a member of the Regional Transit Authority, was apart of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority and owned a real estate development firm. He also served on the mayor’s 2016 Olympic committee, which eventually lost to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in hosting the 2016 Summer Games.
Scott’s family issued a statement saying a memorial service is being planned.
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