Airman was killed on nuclear weapons base in Wyoming by comrade who had pointed gun at him ‘jokingly’

Airman Brayden Lovan, 21, was killed on July 20 at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming when a fellow airman, Marcus White-Allen, pointed his Sig Sauer M18 pistol at Lovan’s chest in what investigators described as a "joking manner." Following the shooting, White-Allen allegedly instructed two other airmen, Sarbjot Badesha and Matthew Rodriguez, to lie about the circumstances, suggesting they tell authorities he slammed his duty belt or his holster went off. Initially, Badesha and Rodriguez falsely reported hearing a discharge and then seeing Lovan down, leading investigators to believe the M18 had discharged accidentally. This false report prompted the Air Force Global Strike Command to temporarily suspend the M18 pistol at nuclear weapons sites, though the ban was lifted in late August after the firearm was deemed safe. The suspension occurred while Sig Sauer faced lawsuits over allegations that its P320 pistol could fire without the trigger being pulled, claims the company denies. White-Allen was arrested for involuntary manslaughter and making a false statement. He was later found dead on the base on October 8, though details of his death have not been released. Badesh... download the app to read more