US nuclear airmen plead guilty to false statements in shooting that suspended Sig Sauer M18 use
FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) — Two airmen at a U.S. Air Force base in Wyoming pleaded guilty to making false statements in connection with the fatal shooting of a third of the Sig Sauer M18 pistol that led to a month-long suspension of the use of the Sig Sauer M18 pistol at nuclear weapons sites, the Air Force said Friday.
Air Force Global Strike Command’s weapons pause following the death of 21-year-old Brayden Lovan in late July was lifted in late August after Air Force officials determined the M18 was safe to carry.
Lovan was an airman with the 90th Security Forces Squadron, 90th Missile Wing at FE Warren Air Force Base outside Cheyenne.
Details of his death were revealed for the first time on Friday, including that alleged shooter Marcus White-Allen pointed the gun at Lovan’s chest “as a joke.” White-Allen allegedly encouraged two other surviving airmen after the shooting to lie about what happened, according to the statement.
White-Allen, who was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and making false statements, was found dead at the base on the morning of October 8. Air Force officials did not release details about White-Allen’s death and said the incident was still under investigation.
Laramie County Coroner Rebecca Reid did not respond to phone messages seeking information about White-Allen’s death. A person who answered the coroner’s office phone Friday said Reid had no comment.
Airmen Sarbjot Badesha and Matthew Rodriguez pleaded guilty this week to making false official statements regarding Lovan’s July 20 death, the Air Force said.
Badesha was sentenced to 30 days in jail and a $1,545 fine, and Rodriguez was sentenced to 10 days in jail, 15 days of base restriction and a $500 fine. Both were demoted to administrative rank.
The duo reported hearing White-Allen’s gun go off and then saw Lovan on the ground, according to the statement.
White-Allen allegedly told Badesha, “Here’s the story. Tell them I slammed my duty belt on the table and it exploded.” White-Allen allegedly told Rodriguez to tell emergency responders that White-Allen’s “cover was blown,” according to the statement.
Neither airman initially reported this information, leading investigators at first to believe White-Allen’s M18 had been fired accidentally, according to the statement.
While other US service branches continue to use the M18, Global Strike Command has suspended its use. The suspension comes amid lawsuits filed against Sig Sauer alleging that its P320 pistol could fire without the trigger being pressed.
The New Hampshire-based gun manufacturer denies the allegations, saying the gun is safe and the problem is user error. In some cases he prevailed.
