Honk News (Munford, TN) – A teacher in a Tennessee community has been found dead in a classroom, leading to a period of mourning this week.
On Thursday, March 6, before school began, the Munford Police Department announced that they “responded to an emergency situation at Munford High School.”
Authorities reported that Samuel Colin Day was discovered deceased in a classroom at the school.
Authorities reported that Day passed away from what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound at approximately 6:00 a.m. local time, noting that there were no signs of foul play.
Authorities have not provided further details regarding the finding of Day’s body, but they confirmed that the “tragic incident” occurred “well before students arrived for class.”
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends, students, and faculty affected by this heartbreaking event. We ask that the community respect the family’s privacy during this difficult time,” police said, noting that the school would be closed for the rest of the day as they continued their investigation.
After the police statement, heartfelt tributes started to come in for the cherished teacher.
“He always tried to make everyone happy,” one commenter wrote in response to the post.
“He was a great guy always joking and laughing,” shared another social media user, who said she worked with him for 10 years. “Lots of memories. He will be truly missed by many.”
A third comment came from someone identifying as a school parent, who described Day as “one of the nicest, kindest, and most encouraging teachers I’ve met.”
Tipton County Schools also expressed their sorrow over Day’s passing.
“As we mourn the tragic loss of a highly respected and valued member of our school family today, we offer prayers and condolences to Mr. Day’s loved ones, his friends, and the entire staff and student body of Munford High School,” Tipton County Board of Education, which Munford High School is part of, told PEOPLE in a statement on Friday.