Fast Food Chain CEO Suicide Tragedy: “He never seemed sad.”

This is a tragic and puzzling story – what would drive a seemingly happy, successful entrepreneur enjoying the “American dream” to take his own life?

Lowell Hawthorne, 57, reportedly shot himself inside the Bronx factory of his Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery and Grill on Saturday Dec. 1st, but no one knows why. Employees saw his car - a Tesla 85D - parked between two lanes blocking traffic, which alerted them to the fact something was wrong with their boss; he just didn’t do erratic things like that.

A picture of the CEO is beginning to emerge as details come to light. The New York Post reported that Hawthorne emigrated to the United States from Jamaica and opened the first Golden Krust store in the Bronx 30 years ago.

Hawthorne, his wife Lorna, four of his siblings and their spouses, pooled their money to get the store off the ground and worked hard to grow it to 120 franchises in nine states, producing roughly 50 million patties a year. Jerk chicken and plantains are also popular menu items. Golden Krust became the first Caribbean-owned business in the U.S. to be granted a franchise license.

Hawthorne wrote a book in 2012, The Baker’s Son, and he rose to national fame when he was a guest on the hit CBS show Undercover Boss last year.

So what could possibly drive Hawthorne to the brink? The people who knew him are baffled. More than a dozen current and former employees stood in disbelief outside the factory upon release of the news, many of them in tears.

“He was a good boss, humble and a good businessman,” said Pete Tee, a former employee. “He never seemed sad. This is just terrible news.”

Current employee Everald Woods said, “He was a nice boss, a wonderful guy,” said Woods, an employee since 2003. “He’s the kind of guy you want to work for, for that long. He takes care of his employees.”

Since his family hasn’t made any public statements yet, the future of the Golden Krust empire is unclear.

Our hearts go out to Hawthorne’s wife, family and friends. If you or someone you know is suffering from depression, please check out the Suicide Prevention Lifeline.