Jefferson City police confirmed Wednesday they are investigating the death of a former state representative as a possible suicide.

Police said the body of Keith English, 50, was found in a church parking lot on Missouri 179 and Sue Drive, and police recovered a firearm at the scene.

The Jefferson City Police Department received a call about the body at about 7 a.m Wednesday, Capt. Doug Shoemaker said.

Before serving in the Missouri House of Representatives, English served on the Florissant City Council, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He first was elected to the Missouri House as a Democrat in 2012 and became an Independent in 2015.

English lost his re-election bid in 2016, according to the Post-Dispatch.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255). The Suicide Prevention Crisis Text Line is available by texting "START" to 741-741. Additional resources are listed through the Missouri Department of Mental Health at dmh.mo.gov and the National Alliance on Mental Illness at nami.org/Find-Support/NAMI-Help-Line#crisis.