By Rebecca Henely
Police, firefighters and men in hazmat suits were called to the parking lot of the Home Depot in College Point Saturday night after a man was found dead in a car.
A spokeswoman for the NYPD said details involving the death were scant, although police received a 911 call at 5:45 p.m. about an unconscious man outside of the big box hardware store, at 124-04 31st Ave. in College Point.
A police officer on the scene said it seemed like the man had mixed chemicals together in a bucket found in the car, possibly in a suicide attempt.
The name of the man had not been released as of Tuesday afternoon press time.
The city medical examiner’s office said it was still determining the cause of death.
Home Depot employee Joe, who declined to give his last name, was working in the garden department as police and authorities investigated the car Saturday.
Joe said while the man may have bought something from the store, he was not sure that a purchase at Home Depot could have caused the death.
“I don’t think we have anything that toxic,” Joe said.
Joe said the man’s death affected him because it was a situation he wanted to prevent as a store employee.
“You feel responsible, even though you may not be directly responsible,” he said.
Reach reporter Rebecca Henely by e-mail at rhenely@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4564.
