Pullman Police update Hilinski report

Pullman Police Chief Gary Jenkins Jan. 23 issued an update in the investigation of the suicide of Tyler Hilinski, the WSU football player who was found dead at his Aspen Village apartment on NE Norwood Drive in Pullman Jan. 16 at about 4:30 p.m.

Hilinski died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Cause of his death was officially determined to be suicide Jan. 18 by the county coroner.

Chief Jenkins reported the investigation did not reveal any particular motive for suicide.

Among other points in the update, the chief reported the .223 caliber rifle Hilinski used to take his life belonged to a former teammate on the WSU football team. He said it appears Hilinski took the rifle, without the teammate's knowledge, on or before Jan. 12.

Tuesday's report said Hilinski was last seen at about 8:45 a.m. on Jan. 16 when he dropped off a teammate for a WSU class.

Hilinski did not show up for a team weight training session at 2 p.m. and coaches at that time were unable to reach him by phone. Pullman officers received a request to check on Hilinski at about 4 p.m. Chief Jenkins reported officers initially went to an apartment on B Street where Hilinski was believed to be residing and were then redirected to the Aspen Village apartments.

Just prior to the officers' arrival on the scene, two teammates who went looking for Hilinski forced their way into the apartment and discovered the deceased just as Pullman officers arrived at the scene.

A note was found at the scene, but state law restricts release of the note’s contents to only family members.

The Hilinski death investigation remains open pending a report of toxicology results from the state laboratory.