The investigation is ongoing after a Brooke County man was found dead in his home from an apparent gunshot wound, and the sheriff is asking for the public's help gathering information.

Around 1:45 p.m. Tuesday afternoon, emergency officials received a call from a person who had found 30-year-old Jason Lee Pratz unresponsive in his home on Genteel Ridge Road in the McKinleyville area.

Sheriff Chuck Jackson said his office is investigating Pratz's death as an apparent homicide. On Wednesday, Jackson said in a news release that Pratz's body was taken to the West Virginia State Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy.

"We're going to be as thorough as we can," Jackson said. "We are going to leave nothing unturned in this thing and we're going to hopefully investigate this to a successful conclusion. It's just very tragic."

In a news release, Jackson said deputies and emergency services responded to the initial call.

"Upon arrival Pratz was found deceased, in the home, the victim of an apparent gunshot wound. Due to the circumstances at the scene, the death is being investigated as a homicide," the release stated.

Jackson declined to release many details about Pratz's death.

"If people have the information it's easy for them to say, 'I know about that crime, I know this happened,'" Jackson said. "By keeping details to a minimum, you enhance your chances of keeping good information, rather than information someone may have picked up from another source."

Jackson said his office will be working with a state police laboratory in Charleston as well as the local task force to help with the investigation.

"This is certainly a rarity (in Brooke County) that we investigate incidents that are apparent homicides," he said.

Jackson is asking for the public's help and asked that any information regarding Pratz's death be relayed to Sheriff's Office. People can also call the NEWS9 Lauttamus Security Crime Busters Tipline at 800-862-BUST or email crimebusters@wtov.com.

Stay with NEWS9, WTOV9.com and WTOV9 Mobile for continuing coverage.

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Feb. 19, 2013: Brooke County Sheriff's Department investigating apparent homicide