An airman stationed at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, who died after being shot by an AK-47 fired through the wall of an off-base apartment in Wyoming, has been identified by service officials.
Senior Airman Joshua Aragon, a specialist assigned to the 790th Missile Security Forces Squadron at the base’s 90th Missile Wing, died early Saturday morning, a statement released late Tuesday evening detailed.
The airman accused of firing the weapon was identified as Airman 1st Class Jadan Orr with the 90th Missile Security Forces Squadron. Orr has been “charged with involuntary manslaughter by the Laramie County District Attorney’s Office,” the statement said. Additionally, Military.com confirmed that charge with the local circuit court.
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The new details from F.E. Warren Air Force Base mark the second case of involuntary manslaughter being investigated involving Security Forces airmen at the Cheyenne, Wyoming, installation this summer.
In a Facebook Post on Saturday, the Cheyenne Police Department said that Aragon was 23 years old and that Orr was 20 years old. The incident happened after several friends had been drinking at an apartment until the early morning hours on Saturday, the police said.
Orr had gone into the bedroom of the apartment with two friends and allegedly began handling an AK-47 in the room.
“At some point, Orr picked up an AK-47 that was in the room,” the Cheyenne Police Department said on Facebook.”While manipulating the firearm, Orr charged it and fired it through the wall into the living room, striking the victim in the torso.”
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Senior Airman Aragon,” Col. Terry Holmes, 90th Missile Wing commander, said in a statement. “He was a valued member of our defender team, and his passing leaves a tremendous void. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and fellow airmen as we grieve this heartbreaking loss.”
The Cheyenne Police Department is investigating the incident, and the 90th Missile Wing is cooperating with the probe, the Air Force’s statement said.
Last month, Security Forces Airman Brayden Lovan, 21, was killed by a firearm discharge involving a Sig Sauer M18 handgun at F.E. Warren. The July 20 incident led to a widespread pause of the pistol’s use throughout Air Force Global Strike Command, as well as an investigation throughout the entire Air Force.
But earlier this month, the Air Force announced that “an individual has now been arrested on suspicion of making a false official statement, obstruction of justice, and involuntary manslaughter.”
Air Force Global Strike Command’s pause of the handgun’s use is still ongoing. Lovan’s death renewed scrutiny of Sig Sauer’s P320 handgun, including its M17 and M18 military variants, amid yearslong allegations, lawsuits and reports of the pistols firing without the trigger being pulled.
Following the announcement of the Air Force Global Strike Command investigation, the gun manufacturer said in a statement late last month that it has “absolute confidence in the U.S. military’s ability to conduct a thorough investigation and report their findings.” It defended the P320 handgun, calling it “one of the safest, most advanced pistols in the world — meeting and exceeding all industry safety standards.”
No public statement has been issued by Sig Sauer following the announcement of the arrest and involuntary manslaughter charge related to Lovan’s death.
Related: Airman Accused of Firing AK-47 Through Apartment Wall in Latest Gun Death Near Wyoming Base
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