Reported suicide from SLO parking garage an accident, coroner says

The San Luis Obispo County Coroner’s office is calling the death of Brian Lawler, who was reported to have committed suicide by jumping off a building in downtown San Luis Obispo in July, an accident.



The coroner listed the cause of death as multiple blunt force trauma and the manner to be accidental, said Sheriff’s spokesman Tony Cipolla.



“The death cannot be ruled a suicide because there was no suicide note, there was no indication of suicide to family or friends and they can’t go on assumptions,” Cipolla said.



Lawler landed in an alley behind the parking structure at 919 Palm Street on July 18. He was taken to Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

This story was originally published July 31, 2013 at 5:16 PM with the headline "Reported suicide from SLO parking garage an accident, coroner says."