Former staffer kills himself outside Texas congresswoman’s home

Chris Dillard was Beth Van Duyne's campaign communications director from November 2019 to April 2020

Beth Van Duyne walks through the Canon Tunnel to the U.S. Capitol on January 12, 2021. (Getty Images)

Former staffer and GOP activist Richard Christian Dillard killed himself outside the home of first-term Texas Representative Beth Van Duyne in Irving just west of Dallas.

The 55-year-old died outside the home on Wednesday. He was Ms Van Duyne's campaign communications director from November 2019 to April 2020.

Mr Dillard had also worked as a public affairs officer for the Texas State Guard, The Dallas Morning News reported.

Ms Van Duyne was home at the time and called the police after seeing his body, at about 3:45 pm on Wednesday.

Spokeswoman Amanda Gonzalez Thompson told The Dallas Morning News that Ms Van Duyne "is shocked and saddened that someone would take their own life".

The CEO of the right-wing True Texas Project Julie McCarty told The Dallas Morning News that she was “devastated by the passing of our good and faithful friend and patriot". She called Mr Dillard “arguably the most popular activist in the Metroplex and well-beyond".

The Metroplex is the area surrounding the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth in northeast Texas.

“I know people will make assumptions and think they know what went wrong. I urge you to resist doing that and just celebrate a life well-lived," Ms McCarty said.

Fort Worth state representative Matthew Krause wrote in a social media post that he was "Very saddened to learn of the passing of Chris Dillard."

He added: "I appreciated Chris because he was not afraid to keep me accountable as an elected official. He would constantly challenge me where he felt I had been out of line. But, he would also be there to encourage when he thought I was on the right track. It is such a blessing to have someone like that in your life."