Death of Man Found Near City Hall Ruled Suicide

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[UPDATED Aug. 12, 2024 | 9:05 a.m.] A 46-year-old local man was found dead outside an apartment building near Pasadena City Hall early Sunday morning, with police later ruling the death a suicide after an initial investigation.

According to Lt. Matt Campeau, Pasadena police officers responded to reports of a person down and not breathing outside the former YMCA building in the 200 block of East Holly Street at 6:28 a.m. Sunday.

A pedestrian flagged down patrol officers, while a caller reported a man apparently suffering a medical emergency, according to Lt. Keith Gomez.

The arriving officers discovered the man unresponsive on the ground with visible traumatic injuries. Pasadena Fire Department paramedics pronounced him deceased at the scene.

The victim was identified as John Henry Njoroge, Pasadena resident.

Initially, the death appeared suspicious, prompting detectives from the Department’s Robbery Homicide Unit to initiate an investigation.

RHU detectives served a search warrant at the nearby apartments and located evidence.

“The investigation … revealed the death was a suicide,” Campeau said.

Authorities have not disclosed the method of suicide or specifically what evidence led them to this conclusion.

Pasadena police ask anyone with information about this case to call them at (626) 744-4241 or report information anonymously by contacting “Crime Stoppers” at (800) 222-TIPS (8477) via your smartphone, or by downloading the “P3 Tips” Mobile App on Google Play or the Apple App Store, or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.

Help is available all the time:
National Suicide Hotline (988 Lifeline): Dial 988 for 24/7 support
Didi Hirsch 24-hour Crisis Line: 1-877-727-4747 (en Español: 1-800-628-9454)
LGBTQ – The Trevor Lifeline: 1-866-488-7386
Trans Crisis Line (Trans Lifeline): 1-877-565-8860