[cgk]

And from local NBC's site:

Marine Found Dead From Gunshot At MCAS Miramar

UPDATED: 3:54 pm PST January 19,

2006

SAN DIEGO -- Military officials said on Thursday that a Marine from New Mexico died early Friday from a gunshot wound at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego.

Sgt. Francisco D. Aquino, 25, of Hidalgo, N.M., was found shot in his barracks room and was pronounced dead at that location at about 8:30 a.m.

Aquino, who joined the Marines in 2000, was an automotive mechanic who fought in Afghanistan and Iraq in 2003. He was assigned to the Air Control Squadron 1, Marine Air Control Group 38, which is based at Miramar.

Among the awards Aquino received during his service were the Presidential Unit Citation, the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. He was also twice the recipient of the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.

The military is conducting an investigation of the shooting.

[cgk]

Ping to the SD FReepers I know... This wasn't posted, and I don't understand why it isn't bigger news on the national scene... I'd sure like to know what happened.

[eastforker]

Don't know abot Marines but years ago in the Army a good conduct medal meant you were squeekie clean, so to say.

[tiki]

I've never heard of Hidalgo, NM. I think they must have meant Hidalgo County.

[Not A Snowbird]

Things like this do happen occasionally. We had a couple shootings (self inflicted) in the barracks while I was stationed at El Toro.