A fatal shooting incident occurred at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the early hours of Saturday, leaving one airman dead and another injured, according to military officials. The officials clarified that the incident was not a terrorist act or an attack from an external source.
The base’s security forces responded to the shooting near one of the entrances around 2 a.m. The injured airman was immediately transported to a hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound to his hand and was later discharged, as per the base’s statement. The other airman, unfortunately, succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
The incident followed an “off-base pursuit,” as revealed in an afternoon update from the base. The statement also assured that there was no threat to the public following the incident.
The Air Force has been tight-lipped about the details of the incident, including whether any suspects have been taken into custody. A spokesperson for the base declined to comment on whether the shooter or shooters were also airmen. The identities of the airmen involved in the shooting have not been disclosed.
The investigation into the incident is being led by the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. The FBI is also involved in the investigation, with assistance from the Albuquerque police, according to Gilbert Gallegos, a police spokesperson. Gallegos also confirmed that the police were not actively searching for any suspects.