A person has been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, making a false statement and obstructing justice in connection with an Air Force gunshot death, authorities at an Air Force Base in Cheyenne said Wednesday.
The arrest follows after the shooting death of 21-year-old Brayden Lovan at the F.E. Warren Air Force base.
Lovan died in a shooting on July 20 that remains under military police investigation. Military officials did not release the identity of the suspect arrested in the shooting and are releasing few details. It is not known if the suspect is a military member.
The scope of the investigation includes looking into the Sig Sauer M18 pistol – a model that has been under scrutiny for reports of unintentional firings.
The company has denied allegations concerning arbitrary firings.
Lovan was a defender assigned to the 90th Security Forces Squadron, 90th Security Forces Group.
“Out of an abundance of caution and based on initial reporting, Air Force authorities ordered various safety precautions involving the M18 after this tragic event,” 90th Missile Wing spokesman Glenn Robertson wrote in an emailed statement on Wednesday.
The Air Force division overseeing Air Force bases pulled M18 firearms from use.
“Since then, the investigation has progressed,” added Robertson.
Someone has now been arrested on suspicion of making a false official statement, obstructing justice, and involuntary manslaughter, says the statement, adding that the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The investigation is ongoing, says the statement, “and further details are not available.”
What To Do
Lovan’s mother has been working with Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky law firm attorney Bob Zimmerman on a possible legal claim following her son’s death, Zimmerman confirmed.
Zimmerman in July strongly questioned the safety of the Sig Sauer P320 series, asking, “How many more injuries and deaths will it take before the company recalls or redesigns this weapon?”
In an interview Wednesday, Zimmerman said he and his client are awaiting the conclusion of the military investigation.
“We and the family are in contact with the Air Force, but their ultimate determinations will probably come some time from now,” he said, adding that he did not know if the arrested person is facing charges in a court-martial, federal or other proceeding.
“We’ve also been told that the gun that is at issue is being tested and evaluated – so with that information we’re awaiting access to the investigative file,” said Zimmerman.
Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.
