Police investigate possible killing of University of Missouri staffer in west Columbia

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia Police Department says it is investigating a possible homicide after officers found a University of Missouri staff member dead inside of a home Wednesday morning.

According to a news release, officers went to a home in the 4800 block of Marble Cedars Drive around 11:30 a.m. for a well-being check. They found James Hundle, 52, dead with a gunshot wound.

Hundle was assistant to the vice chancellor and dean of the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources at the University of Missouri. The school tweeted Thursday that Hundle was devoted to CAFNR. He was also an adviser to an agriculture fraternity.

Investigators said they believe the death is suspicious. No suspect information is available.

Neighbors told ABC 17 News crews crime is uncommon in the neighborhood. None of the neighbors who spoke with our crews knew Hundle well, only one had a personal encounter with him.

"He was our next-door neighbor, but we didn't really know him," said neighbor Jake Bossert. "He was an Uber drive one night for us over the summer and brought us home from downtown."

Check back for more information on this breaking story.