By Bryan Manabat
bryan@mvariety.com
Variety News Staff
AUTHORITIES have confirmed that 23-year-old Nathan Asanuma died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound with his government-issued firearm.
Following an investigation by the Department of Public Safety’s Criminal Investigation Bureau and crime scene technicians, DPS stated Wednesday evening that Asanuma was employed by the CNMI Customs and Biosecurity Division and was off duty at the time of the incident.
“I will provide further information as it becomes available,” said DPS Public Information Officer Fred Sato.
DPS began investigating after Asanuma was found with a gunshot wound Tuesday morning at Ocean Ridge Homes along Beach Road in Iliyang.
At approximately 6:40 a.m. on Oct. 14, 2025, 911 dispatch received a report of an injured person at the residential complex.
Responding officers discovered an unresponsive man lying face up with an apparent gunshot wound. The area was secured as medics from the Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services arrived at the scene.
The victim was transported to the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation’s Emergency Room, where he was pronounced dead at 7:15 a.m. by an attending physician.
“The cause of death was determined to be cardiac arrest resulting from severe blood loss,” DPS stated.
