French police say that a 78-year-old man committed suicide inside the Notre Dame de Paris cathedral Tuesday at around 4 p.m. local time.
All occupants-about 1,500 visitors-who were inside the church at the time were rushed out immediately.
The man has been identified as Dominique Venner, a famed right-wing historian.
Venner shot himself while standing at the altar of the 850-year-old monument.
According to police, Venner did not offer any last words, save a note that was found lying next to his body. They did not provide details on the contents of the letter.
The details of the reason for Venner's suicide are still vague. Officials have not given information on possible motives.
The rector of Notre Dame, Monsignor Patrick Jacquin, told the Associated Press that the death was "dramatic."
"It's unfortunate...It's shocking," he said. "We will pray for this man, as for so many others at their end."
Jacquin said that this was the first suicide in decades to occur at the Notre Dame cathedral. Previous suicides involved a few people jumping from the top of the towers, but no other person had ever killed him or herself at the altar.
Venner was active in the campaign against the French government's recent decision to legalize gay marriage, the BBC reported. In fact, Venner's final blog post on his website admonished the government for passing legislation that allowed same-sex civil unions.
"New spectacular and symbolic actions are needed to wake up the sleep walkers and shake the anesthetized consciousness," he wrote of President Hollande's signing the bill into legislation. "We are entering a time when acts must follow words."
