A local teacher, who was just placed on leave while he’s under investigation for inappropriate conduct with a former student, took his own life on Thursday.

Around 2pm, Longview Police Department (LPD) officers were attempting to contact 35-year-old Eric Zander.

When officers arrived at the 2400 block of Redwood Street, right off 50th Avenue, they heard gunshots, and Lower Columbia SWAT was called for additional backup.

Sergeant Tim Watson of the Longview Police said using a drone, SWAT officers determined Zander had taken his own life.

Zander was placed on administrative leave from his job as a teacher at Monticello Middle School after the LPD received allegations on March 10th of inappropriate conduct between him and a former student.

Watson said law enforcement continues to investigate the series of events. In a district-wide message shared yesterday titled “Difficult News to Share,” Longview Public Schools (LPS) reported they have also hired a third-party investigator to conduct an internal investigation. Also, LPS has scrubbed any article with Zander’s name from their website.

The LPD encourages anyone struggling with this news to seek support from available counseling and crisis resources.