Airman 1st Class Marcus White-Allen concocted a story to cover up that he fired his M18 pistol into Airman Braden Lovan’s chest, two Airmen from F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo., testified during summary courts martial proceedings on Oct. 30-31. Lovan died from the gunshot July 20.
In the aftermath, Airman 1st Class Sarbjot Badesha and Airmen 1st Class Matthew Rodriguez pleaded guilty to making false statements about the shooting, the Air Force said Oct. 31 in a statement. The four Airmen served together in 90th Security Forces Group.
White-Allen became the prime suspect in what at first seemed an accidental death and was arrested in early August. On Oct. 8, he was found dead in his dormitory, according to the Air Force. The statement added that legal proceedings had been temporarily suspended. Details surrounding White-Allen’s death remain unclear.
Lovan’s shooting renewed concerns about the M18 pistol, which has been the subject of much speculation and controversy in the law enforcement and gun enthusiast communities. Several lawsuits have alleged that the gun can discharge without anyone pulling the trigger. Given that background, Air Force Global Strike Command temporarily barred troops from using the sidearm following the death.
Within days, however, investigators determined the initial story wasn’t holding up, and Air Force authorities charged White-Allen with involuntary manslaughter, obstruction of justice, and making a false official statement.
In court, according to the Air Force, Badesha and Rodriguez each testified that they “saw White-Allen pull his duty weapon from his holster and point it at Lovan’s chest in a joking manner,” the Air Force statement says. “Each stated they then heard the firearm go off and saw Lovan fallen on the ground.”
Immediately after the shooting, the Air Force statement says, White-Allen told Badesha “Here’s the story; Tell them that I slammed my duty belt on the desk, and it went off.” Rogriguez testified that White-Allen separately told him to tell emergency personnel arriving on the scene that White-Allen’s “holster went off,” according to the Air Force.
The statements initially led investigators to “believe Lovan’s death was a result of an accidental discharge,” the Air Force statement continues.
The cover story aligned with other narratives about the M18, a 9mm pistol made by Sig-Sauer and based on its P320 striker-fired weapon. Multiple lawsuits filed against Sig Sauer, mostly by law enforcement officers, have alleged that P320 pistols discharged unintentionally.
Sig-Sauer defends its design, promising that the pistol cannot “discharge without the trigger first being moved to the rear,” according to a statement on its website.
The Air Force ordered a service-wide inspection of its 125,000 M18s in August and was on schedule to complete that inspection when the government shut down, delaying any announcement of the results. Global Strike Command cleared the pistol to return to use in late August after its own inspections.
Laboratory tests have “determined there were no defects in White-Allen’s duty-issued weapon,” according to the Air Force statement. “Evidence determined White-Allen had his finger on the trigger as he placed the firearm on Lovan’s chest.”
Authorities sentenced Badesha to 30 days in confinement, reduced his rank to E-1 and fined him $1,545. Rodriguez was sentenced to 10 days confinement and 15 days restriction to base. He was also reduced in rank to E-2 and fined $500, according to the statement.
An investigation into White-Allen’s death remains open.
“Our focus is on ensuring that justice is served and that every aspect of this case is thoroughly examined,” Col. Terry Holmes, commander of the 90th Missile Wing said in the statement.
