PALOS HILLS, IL -- An elderly man is believed to have died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound outside a Catholic church late Sunday afternoon in Palos Hills. Witnesses said they heard a gunshot and saw a person go down. The man was pronounced dead at the scene.

Palos Hills police responded to a call of a shot fired around 5 p.m. outside of Sacred Heart Church at 8245 W. 111th St. When police arrived, they found an elderly white male on the ground with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound near the church entrance.

The man was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy. The death was confirmed a suicide. Police said there is no threat to the public.