A Private assigned to Nomad Troop, 4th Squadron, 3d Cavalry Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas died in a privately owned weapons (POW) mishap 28 April 2020 in Killeen, Texas. The Soldier was with group of Soldiers at a private residence on 26 April 2020 when he picked up a fellow Soldier’s privately owned weapon and accidentally shot himself in the head. He was transported to a local hospital where he died from his injuries two days later. The use of alcohol was involved. The incident is being investigated by the local police department.
Since FY16, the Army has lost an average of four Soldiers a year to POW mishaps. This mishap was already the fourth fatal off-duty POW mishap of FY20. Every mishap has telltale signs. Some you only recognize in hindsight, while others you can’t miss. Alcohol, firearms, late at night…when do you draw the line between fun and tragedy?