The Price of Vigilence

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SF Chronical 1/03/02

S.F. AIRPORT SFO soldier shoots himself in the ass while drawing pistol

The National Guard is investigating an incident at San Francisco International Airport in which a Guardsman accidentally shot himself while unholstering his pistol, officers said yesterday.

The incident occurred Friday and is the first soldier-involved shooting since the National Guard was activated to protect airports and bridges around the country after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

National Guard Spec. Louis E. Alvarez was finishing his shift at about 11 p. m. and was having trouble taking his M-9 pistol out of its holster when it accidentally fired.

"He was trying to unholster the weapon and in the process it fired," said Sgt. 1st Class Tom Jacobs.

Alvarez shot himself once in the buttocks and was treated and released Saturday from San Francisco General Hospital. He remains on medical leave.

The shooting took place in courtyard 1, in between the international and domestic terminals. Several other soldiers were present in the courtyard, which is closed to civilians.

Jacobs said the National Guard is investigating to find out the exact cause of the accident. In the meantime, officers have been ordered to remind their soldiers of general safety precautions, said Jacobs.

Alvarez had been assigned to SFO since Oct. 15 and was one of more than 100 Guardsmen patrolling the airport. The soldiers are usually armed with either an M-16 rifle or an M-9 9mm pistol.

-- (roland@hatemail.com), January 18, 2002

Answers

I have emailed my brother this sad news. He will doubtless be very upset, since he spent time (long ago) in the California National Guard.

-- Peter Errington (petere7@starpower.net), January 18, 2002.

The ability to spell? : )

-- J (Y2J@home.comm), January 18, 2002.

It was a test.

-- (roland@hatemail.com), January 18, 2002.

J,

Is that really you or is it Dennis? ;).

-- Jack Booted Thug (governmentconspiracy@NWO.com), January 18, 2002.


I feel so much safer at the airport now...don't you?

-- (just an@anonymous.one), January 18, 2002.


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