Navy Officer Admits To Using Gun On Himself

Since 08-07-05

Excerpt from NSL UPDATE 06-27-05

Pacific Daily News (Guam)

June 25, 2005

Navy Officer Admits To Using Gun On Himself

By Oyaol Ngirairikl, Pacific Daily News

The unidentified Navy officer involved in a shooting incident two weeks ago has admitted to shooting himself. "In his written statement he had admitted to wanting to do harm to himself," said Navy spokeswoman Lt. Arwen Chisholm.

The unidentified officer, a lieutenant junior grade from the visiting submarine USS Helena, was doing rounds on Polaris Point on June 5 when the shooting occurred. That prompted a five-hour lock-down of the entire Navy installation on Guam in a search for the intruder.

The officer had told investigators that he'd been shot at and then had fired back, but that the suspect fled the scene. Naval Security Forces and the Guam Police Department thoroughly searched the vicinity and Marine Corps Drive that night into the following morning.

Navy divers had found the small-caliber gun they believe was used in the shooting and it was later determined that it belonged to the victim. Chisholm said Navy officials have not charged the officer with any wrongdoing and have released the officer back to his command on the USS Helena, but the investigation is ongoing.

"The situation is still under investigation because he did falsify information, so they're going to have to investigate why he did it," Chisholm said. The officer may face charges such as falsifying information, conduct unbecoming of an officer and having a non-Navy-issued weapon on a submarine, Chisholm has said.