Troopers find man’s body in desert off state Route 168

A man’s body was found Thursday afternoon in the northern Clark County desert, troopers said.

Nevada Highway Patrol troopers found an abandoned 2013 silver Hyundai sedan about 3:30 p.m. in a ditch off of state Route 168 near mile marker 3, close to U.S. Highway 93, trooper Jason Buratczuk said.

Two troopers then followed a set of footprints walking away from the car and into the desert for about 1.5 miles, Buratczuk said. They eventually found a man in his 20s or 30s dead with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. The Highway Patrol found a handgun at the scene.

“It’s out in the middle of nowhere,” he said.

The Clark County coroner’s office was responding, Buratczuk said. The coroner’s office will identify him, as well as determine the cause and manner of death.

Metropolitan Police Department officers are assisting the Highway Patrol with the call, Metro Lt. Brian Cole said.

Contact Mike Shoro at mshoro@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5290. Follow @mike_shoro on Twitter.