By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher
According to TMZ Sports, BMX legend Dave Mirra may have suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), according to Greenville, N.C. Mayor Allen Thomas. This brain disease can only be detected after an individual has passed away.
Yesterday, Mirra committed suicide by a gunshot wound to the head. So, depending on how bad the gunshot wound is, it may or may not be detected.

Thomas, who credited Mirra with putting Greenville on the map, said that officials are gathering the facts about his death. But, he said he fears that Mirra could have suffered CTE from his extreme sports days due to the head trauma that he suffered.
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The mayor also mentioned former NFL star linebacker Junior Seau — who also committed suicide with a gun in 2012 — and was also found to have CTE after having his brain examined. Mark Holtzman, the Greenville Police Chief, said that investigators have spoken with Mirra’s friends — who he was with minutes before his death — and according to Holtzman, they said he didn’t appear to be suicidal.
He also said that Mirra reportedly showed signs of depression in the past. It’s a deadly disease that people can’t shake unless they get help and have their family behind them to support them through it.
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Mirra, who was 41-years-old, was discovered in his truck on Thursday afternoon. TMZ Sports said that the authorities believed it was clear he took his own life with a gunshot to the head.
Mirra is one of the X Games’ most popular stars and even helped many extreme sports professional athletes to move to the Greenville, N.C. area. He had 24 total X Games medals, including 14 gold.
He had the most X Games medals until Bob Burnquist surpassed it in 2013. He medaled in every X Games competition from 1995 to 2009.
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He was sponsored by Harro bikes, before starting his own bike company. In addition in the years before his death, Mirra was also a Rally Car driver.
READ MORE: Talking Sports with Dave Mirra
In the Global RallyCross Championship standings, he placed 8th in 2011, before finishing 12th in 2012 and 2013.
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