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Authorities are investigating a shooting that left 2 people dead at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland. VPC
Lt. Col. William A. Schroeder, 39, of Ames, Iowa and commander of the 342nd Training Squadron at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, was shot to death April 8, 2016, on base.(Photo: U.S. Air Force)
SAN ANTONIO<span style="color: Red;">*</span>— An Air Force officer and an enlisted man were the two victims of
what officials believe was a murder-suicide Friday at Lackland Air Force Base, U.S. Air Force officials said Saturday.
First responders arrived at a first-floor classroom in Forbes Hall at about 8:50 a.m. CT Friday and found two men dead from gunshot wounds, officials said. They were<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Air Force Lt. Col. William A. Schroeder, 37th Training Wing, the 342nd Training Squadron commander, and Air Force Tech Sgt. Steven D. Bellino, a 342nd Training Squadron student.
Bellino is believed to be the alleged gunman, an Air Force official said but did not indicate a motive.
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"The 37th Training Wing mourns the loss of our airmen and family members," Brig. Gen. Trent Edwards, the wing commander,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>said in a press release. "Our primary focus at this time is to take care of the family and the men and women who are grieving our losses."
In a post on the 37th's Facebook page, Edwards eulogized Schroeder:
I worked closely with Lt Col Schroeder,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>and my wife, Vanessa, and I knew his family. He was an amazing airman, father and husband.
Our focus at this time is to take care of Lt Col Schroeder's family, who is here in the local area. He leaves behind a wife and two small children. We will care for and comfort them as best we can. We will also take care of the family members and friends who are grieving the loss of TSgt Bellino.
Bellino, 41, of Parma Heights, Ohio,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>had<span style="color: Red;">*</span>been a pararescue student at the 342nd since he entered active duty in June, according to information the Air Force released.
Schroeder, 39, of Ames, Iowa, had run the 342nd since May 2014. Schroeder, whose primary career field was as a weather officer,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>previously was commander of the 10th Combat Weather Squadron at Air Force Special Operations Command at Hurlburt Field, Fla.
Schroeder entered active duty in July 1999 and had earned a Bronze Star, two Joint Service Commendation Medals, two Air Force Commendation Medals, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and three Meritorious Service Medals, according to the Air Force.
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Attempts to reach the families of the deceased were unsuccessful Saturday.
“A tragedy of this type is felt by each and every member, but we will pull together to help our own," said Brig. Gen. Robert LaBrutta, commander of the 502nd Air Base Wing and Joint Base San Antonio.
Lackland Air Force Base is part of Joint Base San Antonio. The base is an entry processing point for Air Force enlisted basic training, and the 342nd squadron is dedicated to<span style="color: Red;">*</span>entry-level training for all battlefield airmen, such as pararescuemen, combat controllers and special operations weather airmen.
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Two Glock weapons were found at the scene of the shooting.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Only law-enforcement agents are allowed to carry weapons on base.
The ongoing investigation, which the Air Force's Office of Special Investigations is leading along with the FBI,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>will look at how the weapons were brought onto the base.
Contributing: KENS-TV, San Antonio. Follow<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Stephen Losey and Oriana Pawlyk on Twitter:<span style="color: Red;">*</span>@StephenLosey<span style="color: Red;">*</span>and<span style="color: Red;">*</span>@Oriana0214
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