Police are careful, very careful, when it comes to homicide and suicide. We regret that Michael Scott’s death was ruled a suicide.

Such a loss.

From the Sun-Times:

The death of Chicago School Board President Michael Scott was ruled a suicide this afternoon by the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office. He died of a gunshot wound to the head, officials said.

When police found his body early this morning, Scott was face down in a foot of water along the Chicago River downtown, a .380-caliber handgun under his body, a source said.

The 60-year-old Scott, Mayor Daley’s go-to-guy for years, had a gunshot wound to his left temple.

He left behind his cell phone on a ledge overlooking the river on the west side of the Apparel Center, 350 N. Orleans.

But he left no note, a source said.

Another source who was with the Scott family today said the family does not believe Scott committed suicide and are not accepting the medical examiner’s conclusion.

“They know him to be a fighter,” the source said. “He had so much life ahead of him and so much more to do.”

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and those who knew him best.

Read more here.