BMX star Dave Mirra found dead from apparent suicide at 41

Police said Mirra was found sitting in a truck with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
BMX star Dave Mirra found dead from apparent suicide at 41
BMX star Dave Mirra found dead from apparent suicide at 41 /

BMX bike star Dave Mirra, who once held the record for most X Games medals, was found dead at the age of 41, according to the Greenville, N.C. police department.

Police said Mirra was found sitting in a truck with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. He had been visiting friends in the area a short time before the incident.

"We mourn the loss today of a great friend and wonderful human being who touched the lives of so many around the world with his gift. He called Greenville, North Carolina home and was as humble a guy talking with kids on a street corner about bikes as he was in his element on the world stage. A young life with so much to offer was taken too soon," Greensville mayor Allen Thomas said in a statement.

Life after BMX: Dave Mirra's journey to the top of Ironman is underway

Skater Tony Hawk posted the following message on his Twitter page:

Mirra medaled at every X Games from 1995 to 2008. He finished his career with 24 total medals, 14 of which were gold.

GALLERY: CLASSIC PHOTOS OF DAVE MIRRA

Classic Photos of Dave Mirra

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Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Here are some classic photos of the late Dave Mirra, a BMX legend and former host of MTV's Real World/Road Rules Challenge.

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Corey Rich for Sports Illustrated

Dave Mirra looks on during a film tour in 2005.

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M. Caulfield/WireImage

Dave Mira and Andy Roddick during 2005 ESPY Awards.

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J. Vespa/WireImage

Lil' Bow Wow and Dave Mirra during Nickelodeon's 15th Annual Kids Choice Awards.

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Debra L Rothenberg/FilmMagic

Dave Mirra during a 2004 event at South Street Seaport in New York City.

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Debra L Rothenberg/FilmMagic

Dave Mirra and girlfriend Lauren Blackwell during a 2004 event at South Street Seaport in New York City.

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Debra L Rothenberg/FilmMagic

Dave Mirra during a 2004 event at South Street Seaport in New York City.

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E. Charbonneau/WireImage for People Magazine

Dave Mirra at the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race in Long Beach, Calif., in 2006.

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M. Tran/FilmMagic

George Lucas and Dave Mirra during the 31st Annual Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race in Long Beach, Calif.

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Mark Mainz/Getty Images for T-Mobile

Dave Mirra at Randalls Island in New York City in 2003.

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Mark Mainz/Getty Images for T-Mobile

Dave Mirra at Randalls Island in New York City in 2003.

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Frank Micelotta/ImageDirect

Dave Mirra gets ready to backflip his bike into a 4,000 gallon vat of slime on the 15th Annual Nickelodeon Kid's Choice Awards in 2002, at The Barker Hanger in Santa Monica, Calif.

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Frank Micelotta/ImageDirect

Dave Mirra after he backfliped his bike into a 4,000 gallon vat of slime on the 15th Annual Nickelodeon Kid's Choice Awards in 2002.

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Getty Images

Dave Mirra arrives at the 13th Annual ESPY Awards at the Kodak Theatre on July 13, 2005 in Hollywood.

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Michael Bradley/Getty Images

Dave Mirra in action at a 2002 BMX demonstration in Auckland, New Zealand.

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Michael Becker/Getty Images for Fox

Dave Mira arrives at the Inaugural "Arby's Action Sports Awards" held in 2006 in Burbank, Calif.

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Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Gold medal winner Travis Pastrana and bronze medal winner Dave Mirra after the Rally Car race during the summer X Games 14 in August 2008 in Carson, Calif.

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Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Dave Mirra during the BMX Park Final of the Nike 6.0 BMX Open in June 2009 at Grant Park in Chicago.

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Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Dave Mirra during the BMX Park Final of the Nike 6.0 BMX Open in June 2009 at Grant Park in Chicago.

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Stephen Lovekin/FilmMagic

Dave Mirra during Denzel Washington and Dave Mirra Visit MTV's "TRL" on July 16, 2004, at MTV Studios in New York City.

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Theo Wargo/WireImage

Dave Mirra during Denzel Washington and Dave Mirra Visit MTV's "TRL" on July 16, 2004, at MTV Studios in New York City.

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SGranitz/WireImage

Dave Mirra during Nickelodeon's 15th Annual Kids Choice Awards.

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Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic

Dave Mirra during the 2005 ESPY Awards arrivals.

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J. Vespa/WireImage

Dave Mirra with The Hulk during Nickelodeon's 16th Annual Kids Choice Awards.

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Robert Mora/Getty Images

Alexis Biedel, left, Dave Mirra and Kaley Cuco during Nickelodeon's 16th Annual Kids' Choice Awards in 2003 in Santa Monica, Calif.

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Mark Mainz/Getty Images for T-Mobile

Dave Mirra at the "T-Mobile Ramps and Amps Invitational" July 19, 2003, in New York City.

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Mark Mainz/Getty Images for T-Mobile

Dave Mirra at Randalls Island in New York City in 2003.

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Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

Dave Mirra at X Games in the summer of 2000.

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Christian Pondella/Getty Images

Dave Mirra participates in the rally racing competition held at X Games in 2009.

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Christian Pondella/Getty Images

Dave Mirra chats with Travis Pastrana at Summer X Games 15.

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Mark Mainz/Getty Images for T-Mobile

Carey Hart (L) and Dave Mirra (R) attend the Ramps and Amps Invitational on July 19, 2003.

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Mark Mainz/Getty Images for T-Mobile

Dave Mirra signs an autograph for a fan at Randalls Island.

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Mark Mainz/Getty Images for T-Mobile

Dave Mirra at the Ramps and Amps Invitational in July 2003.

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Ryan Miller/Getty Images

Dave Mirra celebrates with NASCAR Truck champion Mike Skinner after racing in the Pro/Celebrity Race at the Toyota Grand Prix.

Police will be investigating Mirra's death and will address the media on Friday morning.


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