Police: Man jumped from Gatlinburg Space Needle

A Tennessee man jumped to his death from the observation of deck of the Gatlinburg Space Needle on Monday evening, according to police. 

Officers received a call about 5:40 p.m. Monday that someone had fallen from the popular tourist attraction. When officers arrived at the scene, they found the body of David Ray Pinyan, 58, of Pigeon Forge, Tenn., police said Tuesday.

"The investigation revealed that (Pinyan) had jumped from the observation deck of the Space Needle in an apparent suicide," according to a police news release.

According to the Space Needle's website, the structure is 407-feet-high.

In a statement released Tuesday afternoon, Ron Hensley, president of the Deux Ron Inc, which owns the Space Needle, offered condolences to Pinyan's family.

"We would like to express our condolences to those affected by yesterday's tragedy. Our prayers and thoughts are with them," he said.