A 22-year-old Sergeant assigned to Fort Riley, Kansas, died in an off-duty Weapons and Explosives mishap at local. The Soldier was handling a privately owned pistol at a co-worker’s residence when it was unintentionally discharged, striking him in the head. Another Soldier called 911, and local police and emergency medical services personnel responded to the scene, where the Soldier was pronounced dead. Alcohol involvement is currently unknown. Additional information is currently unavailable.
Since FY21, the Army has lost an average of two Soldiers a year to off-duty Weapons and Explosives mishaps. This mishap was the first off-duty Weapons and Explosives fatality of FY26 and above the number of fatalities for this same time last year.
Safety Tips
When handling weapons, always THINK weapons safety!
- Treat every weapon as if it is loaded.
- Handle every weapon with care.
- Identify the target before you fire.
- Never point the muzzle at anything you don’t intend to shoot.
- Keep the weapon on safe and your finger off the trigger until you intend to fire.