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Monday, November 9, 2026Nov 9

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Man dies in Chickamauga Battlefield visitor’s center

Cannons mark the battlefield atop Snodgrass Hill in Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park.
Cannons mark the battlefield atop Snodgrass Hill in Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park. Cannons mark the battlefield atop Snodgrass Hill in Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park.

A local man died in the bathroom of the Chickamauga Battlefield visitor’s center on Thursday, according to the Fort Oglethorpe police.

Capt. Gary McConathy said the man shot himself. He had recently lost his vision and was combating depression, McConathy said.

Multiple people reported to the Times Free Press that they had seen police activity outside the visitor’s center, located at 3370 LaFayette Road in Fort Oglethorpe. The Civil War-era battlefield is a national park.

The Times Free Press does not typically report suicides, however, this happened in a public place.