Natalie Neysa Alund

nalund@tennessean.com

Metro police say a man whose body was found at the foot of a state building in downtown Nashville Thursday morning died as a result of an apparent suicide.

Officers responded at 5:54 a.m. to 312 Rosa Parks Avenue after receiving a report that a man jumped off the top of the William R. Snodgrass Tennessee Tower.

At the scene, crime scene tape surrounded a portion of the plaza entrance just off 7th Avenue and a Metro police captain confirmed the body of a man had been found.

The man, who was found on the north side of the skyscraper — just off Charlotte Avenue, was pronounced dead at the scene.

A preliminary investigation revealed the man apparently committed suicide, police spokeswoman Kris Mumford said.

The official cause of death is pending an autopsy by the Davidson County Medical Examiner.

At the scene, a group of men working on the building's roof said they were on the roof at some point but did not see the tragedy unfold.

One of the workers did say they saw items on the roof they believe may have belonged to the man. They did not elaborate.

The building, which houses a slew of Tennessee government offices was named in honor of William R. Snodgrass, a public servant who served as Tennessee's Comptroller of the Treasury from 1955-99.

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Reach Natalie Neysa Alund at 615-259-8072. Follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.