A witness says the man climbed up the rocks onto a concrete pillar and jumped, although officials have not confirmed how the incident occurred.RANKIN COUNTY, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
Reservoir officials are saying no foul play is expected in the apparent drowning death at the Ross Barnett Reservoir Tuesday morning.
A 911 call went out shortly after 7 a.m. Tuesday, according to Reservoir Police Chief Perry Waggener, reporting a man was in the Pearl River at the Barnett Reservoir dam. Upon arrival, first responders discovered an unidentified man's body in the water below the spillway.
Efforts to resuscitate the man were unsuccessful and Rankin County Coroner Jimmy Roberts pronounced the victim dead at the scene. A witness says the man climbed up the rocks onto a concrete pillar and jumped, although officials have not confirmed how the incident occurred.
"Units arrived around 7:22 [Tuesday morning]. We recovered a white male approximately 49-years-old," said Reservoir Police Chief Perry Waggener. "He was pronounced dead at the scene by the Rankin County Coroner. We are not disclosing the identity yet pending notification of family."
Police found the victim's vehicle parked on the road leading to the Rankin County side of the spillway parking lot.
Chief Waggener says units from the Reservoir Police Department, Rankin County Sheriff's Office, Reservoir Fire Department and AMR responded to the scene.
"There are no indications of foul play at this time, but the death remains under investigation pending an autopsy," states Chief Waggener.
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