A U.S. Air Force investigation is underway after a Security Forces Squadron airman shot and killed a civilian individual who was trying to enter the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona on Friday.
According to a Davis-Monthan Air Force Base news release obtained by Military.com, the civilian individual who attempted to enter the Air Force base on Friday “failed to stop and identify themselves at the base’s main gate” and was allegedly “driving erratically” at roughly 2:30 a.m. (local time). Davis-Monthan Air Force Base officials noted that the unidentified individual crashed into a vehicle barrier at the base and tried to back up during the incident.
In the news release obtained by Military.com, Air Force officials confirmed that a U.S. airman from the Security Forces Squadron “shot and fatally injured” the individual after multiple troops used their weapons to prevent the individual from entering the base.
“We certainly regret the loss of life that occurred early this morning,” Col. Jose Cabrera, commander of the 355th Wing, stated. “Our defenders have a very difficult job and acted in accordance with their training and policy to ensure the security of the installation and safety of our airmen.”
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According to Military.com, the name of the deceased civilian had not been released by Air Force officials as of Monday. The outlet noted that the fatal shooting incident is currently under investigation by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations Detachment 21.
Retired Air Force Col. John Probst, the executive director of the Air Force Security Forces Association and a former Security Forces officer, told Military.com that while incidents such as Friday’s fatal encounter with a civilian on a U.S. base are rare, they can occur “almost at any time.”
“I wouldn’t say I think these situations are common,” Probst told Military.com. “I think that they could happen at any installation, almost at any time.”
The former Security Forces officer emphasized that while U.S. airmen should be trained to respond to security incidents “as best as they can,” airmen do not have much time to respond in certain situations.
“They are trained on trying to recognize a threat and also the overall impact of that threat,” Probst said. “All that happens in a very short period of time.”
