FORT MORGAN, Ala. -- A boat captain working in the oil spill response died from a gunshot wound this morning.

William Allen Kruse, born 1955, was the captain of The Rookie, a charter fishing boat normally based in Orange Beach, said Deputy Baldwin County Coroner Rod Steade .

Steade said the deckhands were on the docks and heard a gunshot and went back on and found him dead on the "flying bridge."

The boat was docked at the Gulf Shores Yacht Club & Marina at Fort Morgan, which is on the north side of Ala. 180 about 1.5 miles east of Fort Morgan.

The marina manager confirmed that the shooting had taken place there.

Followup: Death ruled suicide; friend says he's surprised something like this didn't happen sooner.

"I'm very sorry to announce the death this morning of a captain in the vessel of opportunity program at Fort Morgan, Alabama," said U.S. Coast Guard Commander Chuck Diorio, a spokesman for the joint information center at the Mobile command post. "Our hearts go out to his family and the Gulf Coast community. There are many facts that need to be determined surrounding this."

Diorio said the Gulf Shores Police Department was conducting an investigation.