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A 48-year-old county probation officer is dead from a gunshot wound.

According to Dobson Police Chief Sean Myers, maintenance employees discovered the probation officer dead in his office around 7:30 Wednesday morning.

Myers said that James Matty was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound from what they believe was a .40 caliber handgun.

But police are releasing few details, citing the continuing investigation into the incident.

“We’re not going to be releasing where on his body he was shot, or much more information at this time,” Myers said.

Dobson Town Manager Josh Smith said officers were still on the scene Wednesday afternoon gathering evidence.

According to Smith, investigators still had not determined a motive.

“At this point we don’t have any idea what led to it,” he said.

Rumors were rapidly circulating throughout the county shortly after the body was discovered, claiming Matty was the victim of a homicide, but Myers confirmed Wednesday afternoon that they are treating the investigation as a self-inflicted shooting.

Myron Waddell, assistant director of Surry County Emergency Services, said at the scene that authorities were not searching for any suspects.

The initial investigation was conducted by the Dobson Police Department, but the State Bureau of Investigation is now working with the department to determine exactly what happened.

The body has been transported to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, where an autopsy will be conducted.