( CNN ) -- A body found in southeast Memphis , Tennessee , on Wednesday has been identified as that of former professional basketball player Lorenzen Wright , Memphis police said . The cause of death has been ruled as `` homicide by gunshot wound , '' police said Thursday in a news release , adding that the Shelby County medical examiner used dental records to confirm Wright 's identity . `` Investigators continue to work around the clock to bring justice to Mr. Wright and his family , '' the police department said in a statement . Before that confirmation , Wright 's family had already said that they were mourning his loss . Wright 's cousin , Camella Logan , had released a statement to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper saying , `` We appreciate your thoughts , prayers and condolences as they are comforting at this very difficult time . '' Wright , who has a home in Atlanta , was reported missing on July 22 . He had been visiting with his former wife and their children in Collierville , near Memphis , investigators said . Wright was last seen at his former wife 's home shortly before midnight on July 18 , and a 911 call was placed from his phone in the early hours of July 19 , police said . His body was found on Wednesday by Shelby County Emergency Services Search and Rescue , police said . Dewayne Benton , a Christian radio personality in Memphis , said he left work early to investigate reports his station received about the body . Benton described the crowded crime scene as somber . `` Lorenzen Wright had a lot of financial problems ... but this was just horrible , '' said Benton . `` He was one of the favorite sons of Memphis , '' he added . The 6-foot-11-inch Wright was a high school basketball star in Memphis , and he played professionally for the NBA 's Memphis Grizzlies from 2001 through 2006 . `` We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of Lorenzen Wright , '' the team 's majority owner , Michael Heisley , said in a statement on the Grizzlies ' website . `` We lost a member of the Grizzlies family . '' During his 13-year professional basketball career Wright also played with the Los Angeles Clippers , Sacramento Kings and most recently with the Cleveland Cavaliers . Wright did two tours with the Atlanta Hawks as well , from 1999 to 2001 and from 2006 to 2008 . Former Hawks coach Lenny Wilkens said , `` Lorenzen was a real congenial young man who played with a lot of enthusiasm . This is certainly a huge loss for his family and friends . '' `` Our thoughts and prayers are with [ his family ] during this difficult time , '' said Hawks General Manager Rick Sund in a press statement released Thursday by the NBA team .
NEW : Police say the medical examiner used dental records to identify Lorenzen Wright 's body . NEW : The cause of death was `` homicide by gunshot wound , '' police say . Family and friends mourn Wright 's death . Police say they are working `` to bring justice '' to Wright and his family .