Hunter S. Thompson, legendary author, political commentator and "gonzo" journalist, shot himself to death tonight at his home in Woody Creek, sources within the Pitkin County Sheriff's office have confirmed.

Sheriff deputies and an ambulance responded to a call around 6 p.m. for a self-inflicted gunshot wound at Thompson's residence, a neighbor said. By 6:30 p.m., Thompson's home at 1278 Woody Creek Road was sealed off by a sheriff's van.

Shortly thereafter, a counselor with Aspen Counseling Center, a local organization that provides support for victims at crime scenes, arrived at the residence. An unidentified man leaving the property said "there are a lot of hurt family members up [at the house]."

As of 9:30 p.m., there was no official statement from the Pitkin County Sheriff's Department, but several of Thompson's friends had confirmed the news.

Thompson was an icon of the 1960s counter-culture and was best known for his rapid-fire, first-person style of journalism in books such as "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" and "Hells Angels."

Further updates will be posted when they become available.

Eben Harrell's e-mail address is eharrell@aspentimes.com