An autopsy and an investigation have determined that a man found dead in Billings County this week died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, a sheriff says.

Billings County Sheriff Dave Jurgens said the case has been closed on the death of Jens Jensen, 24.

Jensen's body was spotted by a helicopter crew Tuesday afternoon. The body was about 30 yards from a pickup parked in a remote scoria pit five miles southeast of Medora.

"What we came up with was there's no foul play suspected, and the gunshot wound is self-inflicted," Jurgens said.

Jensen, a native of Missoula, Mont., had been a student and running back for the Montana Tech Orediggers at Butte. He had completed his senior season of football eligibility for the Tech Orediggers last fall.

School officials said he studied petroleum engineering and had one semester remaining before graduation.

Jensen apparently was en route from Dickinson to Glendive, Mont., but never arrived at Glendive, Jurgens said Thursday.

(Reach reporter Jenny Michael at 250-8225 or jenny.michael@bismarcktribune.com.)