BMX legend Dave Mirra was found dead in his truck of an apparent suicide on Thursday, and now officials are suggesting a brain injury may have caused him to become depressed.

The 41 year old, who also hosted two seasons of the popular MTV show Real World/Road Rules Challenge, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound while visiting his family in Greenville, North Carolina, according to local police.

He was discovered in his car less than 1,000 feet from a local high school, just after meeting up with a friend.

He leaves behind a wife, Lauren, and two daughters, Mackenzie and Madison.

Scroll down for video

Tragedy: Dave Mirra was found dead in his truck of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot would on Thursday afternoon in Greenville, North Carolina

Scene: Mirra's truck is seen being towed away on Thursday. Mirra was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound

At a Friday morning press conference, officials seemed to suggest that head injuries sustained during his years of BMX riding may have had an adverse effect on Mirra's mental health.

The condition CTE has been in the spotlight lately, with many researchers looking into whether there's a connection between head injuries sustained in sports like football with issues like depression and dementia.

Depression is a symptom of CTE and multiple football players who have committed suicide have been diagnosed with CTE posthumously. The disease can only be diagnosed during an autopsy.

'This is a young man...that had a pretty rugged sports career and took a lot of injuries,' Greenville Mayor Allen Thomas said Friday.

'You have to give pause and think and wonder, just as we hear about brain trauma in football and other sports and activities, whether that played a factor.'

Greenville Mayor Allen Thomas seemed to suggest that Mirra may have suffered from CTE when he said the BMX biker 'had a pretty rugged sports career and took a lot of injuries'

'I don't know if that's the case but...it really gives pause to think about someone who put his life out there, his body out there, for so many years if that's something.

WHAT IS CTE? Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is a progressive degenerative disease of the brain found in athletes (and others) with a history of repetitive brain trauma, including symptomatic concussions as well as asymptomatic subconcussive hits to the head. This trauma triggers progressive degeneration of the brain tissue, including the build-up of an abnormal protein called tau. These changes in the brain can begin months, years, or even decades after the last brain trauma or end of active athletic involvement. The brain degeneration is associated with memory loss, confusion, impaired judgment, impulse control problems, aggression, depression, and, eventually, progressive dementia. Source: Boston University CTE Center Advertisement

'I hope we're able to solve that mystery,' Thomas said, before referencing Junior Seau - a former pro-football linebacker who committed suicide in 2012.

Thomas went on to say that he had even talked with Mirra just two hours before his death, and that he seemed fine.

He says he ran into Mirra outside of a restaurant around 1.30pm and that they spoke for about 20 minutes about Mirra's plans to teach local children about cycling sports.

'I wish I could've picked up on something - anything, go back to Dave and just put an arm around him. Say, "look brother you have two beautiful girls who need you. Nothing is more important than that. We will get this figured out,"' Thomas wrote on his Facebook on Thursday.

Thomas said he is still processing the tragedy and that he hopes out of Mirra's death 'lives might be saved across this community'.

'Dave Mirra was more than just a sports figure... he's a loving member of this community, and that remains,' Thomas said

Family: The 41-year-old BMX legend, who hosted two seasons of Real World/Road Rules Challenge, leaves behind a wife and two daughters (pictured above on Facebook)

Last comment: Mirra posted two Instagram photos shortly before he killed himself, one of him and his wife

The second post (above) was a photo of himself riding his bike, the caption reading the school near where his body was found

At the press conference, Greenville Police chief Mark Holtzman said that Mirra was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound on the 200 block of Pinewood Road around 4pm on Thursday.

The friend who had been visiting with Mirra just before the suicide was shocked to hear about it, Hotlzman said.

When asked if the BMX rider had dealt with depression, Hotlzman said it was apparent Mirra had been struggling with issues but he wouldn't go into specifics.

Mirra posted two Instagram photos shortly before he was found dead, one of him and his wife and a photo of himself riding his bike, with a caption reading where his body was found.

'My rock! Thank god,' wrote Mirra alongside the photo of his wife.

The last photo, of himself riding his bike, was posted just moments before his body was discovered and said; 'Rose high school Greenville Nc.'

He also posted a picture of himself boxing on Wednesday, writing; 'Fight to win! We all have a battles to fight. Never back down. Love you all. #diewithyourbootson.'

His family said that they would appreciate privacy during this very difficult time.

'Dave‘s wife and family are shocked and saddened by the loss of such a remarkable person whom they loved so deeply,' Mirra's agent and friend Steve Astephen said in statement. 'Thank you for your kind thoughts and prayers and for respecting their privacy through this difficult time.'

Day before: Mirra also posted a picture of himself boxing on Wednesday, writing: 'Fight to win! We all have a battles to fight. Never back down. Love you all. #diewithyourbootson'

Legend: Mirra (left in 2009, right in 2010) was one of the most successful X-Games athletes of all time thanks to his BMX talents

Close: Mirra frequently posted photos of his wife and children on social media, writing about how much he loved them

Mirra was born in New York but grew up in Greenville, and became one of the most successful X-Games athletes of all time thanks to his BMX talents.

He participated in the inaugural games in 1995 and medaled at every appearance through 2008, taking home 24 medals along the way - 14 of them gold.

Mirra then became known to fans outside the sport when he hosted two seasons of Real World/Road Rules Challenge in the early 2000s at the height of the program's popularity.

He hosted The Inferno season in 2004 and then, in 2005, The Inferno II season.

Mirra also appeared on MTV's Punk'd around this time in an episode where host Ashton Kutcher led him to believe that he had been accused of fraud by the IRS.

In recent years he had continued to compete, this time in Iron Mans and long distance bike races.

Tony Hawk, perhaps the most famous former pro-skateboarder, wrote: 'Goodbye Dave Mirra, a true pioneer, icon and legend. Thank you for the memories... we are heartbroken.'

Remebering: 'Words can't explain how much I love these guys. Very sad day for myself and the entire Bmx community Gods speed,' said Tim 'Fuzzy' Hall

Tribute: 'I'm in complete shock. Angry, heart broken and just sad at the passing of my friend Dave. Heart broken 4 his daughters and wife,' wrote friend and fellow BMX rider Carey Hart

'I'm in complete shock. Angry, heart broken and just sad at the passing of my friend Dave. Heart broken 4 his daughters and wife,' wrote friend and fellow BMX rider Carey Hart on Twitter Thursday.

Tony Hawk, perhaps the most famous former pro-skateboarder, wrote: 'Goodbye Dave Mirra, a true pioneer, icon and legend. Thank you for the memories... we are heartbroken.'

'Words can't explain how much I love these guys. Very sad day for myself and the entire Bmx community Gods speed,' said Tim 'Fuzzy' Hall.

'Thank you for everything Dave. Gonna miss you brotha. R.I.P.,' wrote Corey Bohan.

ESPN also released a statement, saying; 'Dave Mirra, your courage, determination and natural skill in everything you pursued pushed the world of action sports to become a better place. From all of us at X Games and ESPN, we salute your contributions. Our sincere condolences go out to Dave's wife, Lauren, his daughters Mackenzie and Madison, the BMX community and friends of Dave Mirra.'