Back in July Amn Brayden Lovan was killled in a shooting in the Weapons Storage Area of FE Warren AFB, Wyoming. It is alleged he was shot by another member of his squadron, Amn Marcus White-Allen who was charged with involuntary manslaughter as well as making a false official statement.
This horrific incident also led to a questionable decision by the Commanding General of Air Force Global Strike Command, Gen Thomas Bussiere to remove the weapon from service so that the command’s inventory could be inspected for defects. This only further fed the flames of the false report that the weapon had suffered an “uncommanded discharge” leading to Amn Lovan’s death. The command kept the weapon from service for well over a month despite knowing that the weapon was not to blame. In late August the M18 was reinstated to full service in AFGSC.
Paranoia spread like wildfire throughout the Air Force with multiple units withdrawing the weapons from service. This ended up being picked up by other organizations outside of the Department of War as internet influencers spread rumors and false information. Cooler heads eventually prevailed.
Last Friday sworn testimony in a court martial of two additional Airmen involved in the incident filled in even more blanks since the M18s were returned to service.
The alleged gunman, Amn White-Allen was found dead in his apartment on 8 October. Why he was not in pre-trial confinement remains a mystery but four SF Airmen assigned to the same Missile Wing have died in as many months calling into question the leadership of that unit. Authorities have not released a cause of death for Amn White-Allen. Upon news of his untimely death, the internet was since again awash with wild accusations but the most likely cause is self-harm. The man was facing likely conviction and incarceration for being accused of negligently killing a fellow Airman. Eventually the truth of this final element of the story will also come out and individuals continuing to throw wild accusations will look even more foolish.
Those two unnamed Air Force Security Forces members initially stood by a false assertion that the weapon fired in an uncommanded fashion. Investigation soon revealed that was a lie. Last Friday they both pleaded guilty to making a false official statement and corrected the record.
The sober truth of this entire affair is that firearms are dangerous and must be treated that way. They are not toys. But they also don’t just inadvertently discharge.
What we do know for sure is that while a Modular Handgun System M18 was used to take the life of Amn Lovan, it did not discharge of its own volition as was alleged by so many firearms influencers and parroted by their followers. Based on sworn testimony, Amn White-Allen placed the gun against the chest of Amn Lovan in a “joking manner” and pulled the trigger. The result is two Airmen dead in needless tragedies.
During this affair, we witnessed a social contagion. Some with ill intention toward the MHS program used the event to attempt to force change that was not going to come. Still angry that their preferred brand of handgun wasn’t adopted years ago by the US military, they were sure they could force the DOW to go back and pick their favorite. Many others joined in on the “roasting” of MHS manufacturer SIG SAUER for the fun of it, while others had more sinister agendas including bankrupting the business that made the pistols. Many voices joined together sharing false information, hurling insults at anyone (including this writer) who knew the information they were swearing by was false. They formed an angry mob. Only time and the trickling out of evidence has turned the tide. Even now, some will cling to wild conspiracy theories about the incident rather than admit the truth.
Few of those who claimed that the M18 was to blame for the death have come forward to admit they were wrong. They have done great damage to confidence in the weapon by military, police, and civilian users.
The Modular Handgun System remains safe and reliable. Program managers across the services have reiterated that fact. It’s time to stop spreading false information and accept that this was a needless tragedy wrought by the actions of one man upon another.
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