Former FBI agent killed Air Force commander after failing PJ training and going AWOL

The Air Force has identified the two airmen that were killed during a shooting at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland on Friday.

Technical Sgt. Steven D. Bellino, a pararescue student (PJ) and former FBI agent, apparently took his life after killing Lt. Col. William A. Schroeder, the commander of the 342^nd Training Squadron, 37^th Training Wing.

According to a statement released by the Air Force, Bellino, 41, of Parma Heights, Ohio, entered active duty in June 2015 and has been a pararescue student assigned to the 342^nd since then.

Before enlisting in the Air Force, Bellino had worked for the FBI as a special agent for less than two years, according to the Washington Post.

Bellino also served in the United States Army and deployed to Iraq.

It is not clear how he achieved the rank of Technical Sergeant after only serving in the Air Force for less than a year.

Multiple reports state that Bellino became ‘disgruntled’ after failing a water endurance test.  After failing the test, which was part of his pararescue training, he went AWOL.

He was later taken into custody in Ohio and brought back to Lackland to face a special court-martial for Article 86 (Absent without leave) which was scheduled for April 27, 2016, according to an Air Force JAG docket.

On Friday, Bellino allegedly approached a senior NCO with two loaded Glock handguns in the presence of Schroeder.

Schroeder instructed the senior NCO to run and he attempted to subdue Bellino as he fired shots at the female senior NCO.

Schroeder was hit with three bullets in the arm before he was shot in the head during the struggle, according to My San Antonio.

William A. Schroeder, 39, 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 Times.

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