The Airman arrested in connection with the M18 pistol discharge that killed a fellow member of Air Force security forces on July 20 in Wyoming was found dead earlier this month, an Air Force spokesperson confirmed.
Airman 1st Class Marcus White-Allen had been arrested in early August after an Air Force M18 discharged a 9mm round, killing 21-year-old Airmen Brayden Lovan while he was on-duty with the 90th Security Forces Group at F.E. Warren Air Force Base.
White-Allen, who had not been previously named as a suspect, was found dead Oct. 12, a spokesperson from the 90th Missile Wing confirmed to Air & Space Forces Magazine.
“The cause of his death is still under investigation,” according to a 90th Missile Wing statement. “Previously, Airman White-Allen had been identified as the primary subject under investigation in the death of Airman Lovan and was facing charges of involuntary manslaughter, obstruction of justice, and a false official statement. Since Airman Lovan’s death also is still under investigation, we are unable to provide further details.”
It’s unclear if White-Allen was in custody when authorities found his body. Task & Purpose first reported on this White-Allen’s death.
Loven’s death prompted Air Force Global Strike Command, which oversees nuclear missile operations at Warren, to bar troops from using the M18 after initial reports suggested that pistol discharged on its own.
In late August, Global Strike Command completed its safety check and cleared the pistol for use by all personnel. The Air Force also ordered a separate, service-wide inspection of the service’s 125,000 M18s. The service was scheduled to complete that inspection in late September, but an Air Force spokesperson said the government shutdown has delayed the service from announcing the results.
Lovan and White Allen are among a string of recent deaths of Airmen stationed at Warren.
Airman 1st Class Marcus Evan Jackson died from self-inflicted wounds Sept. 30 in Fort Collins, Colo., in a domestic violence incident later deemed to be a murder-suicide. And Senior Airman Joshua Aragon died Aug. 16 in an off-base shooting incident at his apartment in Cheyenne. Police arrested Airman 1st Class Jadan Orr on charges of involuntary manslaughter in the case, according to a spokesperson with the 90th MW.
Both Aragon’s and Jackson’s death are still under investigation.
Leaders in the 90th Missile Wing and Security Forces units meeting daily to ensure Airmen have access to all-available care, according to the statement.
