The body of former Nassau County Executive Thomas S. Gulotta's son, Thomas, was found at the site of the former Alva T. Stanforth Junior High School in Elmont. According to the Nassau County Police Homicide Squad, Thomas J. Gulotta, 30, died of an apparent suicide.

Police say that at approximately 5:50 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 20, a passer-by observed a male sitting on the ground adjacent to a fence at a construction site located on the ATS property. The passer-by approached the man and attempted to wake him but received no response. The passer-by then observed blood on the man's face and ran to nearby St. Vincent De Paul Church to call police.

The man was later identified as Thomas J. Gulotta, 30, the son of the former county executive.

According to police, there was a nine-millimeter handgun in the vicinity of the scene. There was a bullet wound to the right temple, according to police.

Lieutenant Detective Kevin Smith of the Nassau County Police Department said Gulotta's body was found near the entrance to the school property at the intersection of De Paul Street and Cross Street. The body was found about 30 feet from the entrance, more towards the construction site.

A new Elmont Public Library is being built on the site and part of the school had been demolished.

Smith said Gulotta was staying with a friend at a nearby apartment on Robert Avenue, just around the block from the school, and worked at PC Richard in Manhattan.

Smith said the case would not be deemed closed until the medical examiner makes his final determination. Smith said it is an apparent suicide and said he was told there was a note, but wasn't told whether it was specific to this incident.

Thomas S. Gulotta of Merrick was Nassau County Executive from 1987 until 2002.

"On behalf of Commissioner Lawrence and the Nassau County Police Department, I would like to express our heartfelt condolences to former Nassau County Executive Thomas Gulotta on the loss of his son," said Smith.