Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones said the circumstances surrounding Smiths Station Mayor F.L. “Bubba” Copeland’s Friday afternoon suicide are under investigation, which he said is a standard procedure in such deaths.

A WVTM report that included accounts from two women who said their names and likenesses were used in online posts reportedly from Copeland mentioned the investigation.

That report did not specify that the sheriff’s office was investigating the death.

The WVTM report was then shared by 1819 News, a website once owned by the Alabama Policy Institute.

“We are investigating the specific circumstance surrounding his death,” Jones told AL.com. “It kind of got spilled over to the story that was published by 1819.”

There is no investigation into Copeland’s online posts, the sheriff said.

Jones said he spoke to Copeland Wednesday, the day 1819 News shared online posts from Copeland, a pastor in Phenix City, in women’s clothes. Jones declined to share the specifics of that conversation.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Smiths Station, the parishioners of First Baptist Church of Phenix City and the victims and family of Mayor Copeland,” a statement from 1819 News to AL.com on Friday read.

Jones said Copeland’s death was a loss for Smiths Station.

“He was very involved with the city of Smiths Station, he was active in helping the city to progress. He was Smiths Station’s biggest cheerleader. He was interested in helping people,” Jones said.

“It was just a very tragic situation all around.”

Political leaders have scheduled a prayer service for 6 p.m. today at the Phenix City Amphitheatre as a gesture for area residents to show “more compassion and more love.”

The family will receive friends on Wednesday from 4:30 to 8 p.m. at Vance Brooks Funeral Home in Phenix City. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday at First Baptist of Phenix City where Copeland served as pastor.

Smiths Station Mayor Pro Tem Morris Jackson will take on the office of mayor in the wake of Copeland’s death.

If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, reach out to the 24–hour National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255; contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741; or chat with someone online at suicidepreventionlifeline.org. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24 hours.