Man's body found/ Police not ready to declare death a homicide

A Colorado Springs man was found dead Tuesday morning stuffed between the back wall of a Home Depot store and a large steel storage container.

Michael Bernard Reynolds, 24, had head injuries, said Colorado Springs police Sgt. Rafael Cintron. He declined to say whether Reynolds had been shot or whether the death occurred at the Home Depot at 102 N. Academy Blvd. A store manager said Reynolds did not work at the store, although it does have an employee named Mike Reynolds.

Cintron said no weapon was found.

Reynolds' sister said her brother had a big heart.

"He was very funny and very comical," said the sister, who did not wish to be named. "He was a brother and a friend. We love him and we'll miss him."

The family did not wish to comment further.

Cintron said police are investigating the death as "suspicious" but have yet to rule it a homicide.

The cause and time of death will be established at an autopsy this morning by the El Paso County coroner.

Employees of the Home Depot discovered the body shortly after 7:30 a.m. After detectives and crime lab technicians looked over the scene, an employee of the home improvement center used a forklift to move the steel container slightly so the body could be retrieved.

If the death is ruled a homicide, it would be the 17th in the city this year.

Anyone with information about the death is asked to call police at 444-7000.

- Bill McKeown covers general assignments and may be reached at 636-0197 or mckeown@gazette.com

Becca Blond covers education and general assignments and may be reached at 636-0285 or bblond@gazette.com

Edited by Sue McMillin. Headline by Barry Noreen

Coroner's report

The coroner is expected to rule on the cause and time of Michael Bernard Reynolds' death sometime today.

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