MERIDIAN, Miss. — Mississippi officials have been called in to investigate the death of a former mayoral candidate and local Libertarian Party founder who was found dead near his home Monday.

Mariner Durant, 23, died from an apparent gunshot wound Monday evening in the woods near his home in Meridian, about an hour and a half east of Jackson, authorities reported.

Lauderdale County Coroner Clayton Cobler said investigators found a gun at the scene.

Meridian Police Chief Benny Dubose said police found a note inside Durant’s home, but said he couldn’t comment on the contents of the note. He said police also found a bulletproof vest, a flamethrower, a Kevlar helmet, several knives and a device that appeared to be some type of explosive device. 

“It’s a shock,” Charles Kimbrough, a Libertarian candidate for a seat on the Meridian City Council said. “My thoughts and prayers go out with the family of Mariner.”

Durant gained area notoriety when he ran as the Libertarian candidate in the Meridian mayoral race but dropped out May 9, citing security reasons,” and declined to elaborate.

Kimbrough described Durant as someone young, smart and idealistic about his passions and credited Durant for getting the city’s party started. 

“He got the Libertarian Party started here in Meridian, Mississippi,” Kimbrough said. “He’s the one who got us on the ballot and legally recognized as a party.”

Kimbrough said Durant served as his campaign manager and helped him decide to run for the city council. 

“We became friends in this process,” Kimbrough said. “He really cared about the people of Meridian.”

Since Monday, local authorities have since turned over the investigation of Durant’s death.

“We’ve turned the case over to the (Mississippi Bureau of Investigations) due to the fact that the victim made comments that he was threatened by law enforcement,” Dubose said. “We wanted the family to feel comfortable with the investigation.”

Warren Strain, the public information officer for the Mississippi Bureau of Investigations, said the agency didn’t suspect foul play but couldn’t elaborate on the investigation. 

The Mississippi Crime Lab in Pearl will perform an autopsy this week.

Downard writes for the Meridian, Mississippi Star.