A National Guard soldier that recently completed Airborne School and Ranger school died after accidentally being shot by his roommate in Ankeny, Iowa.
Spc. Eli Reed was an infantryman assigned to B Company, 1st Battalion, 168th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Divison, and was also attending Iowa State University in the ROTC program.
Reed was accidentally shot by his roommate John Peak III, a fellow Iowa Guard member, who was charged with involuntary manslaughter, according to Army Times.
Peak was apparently intoxicated when he fired his handgun and local police said he called 911 immediately after.
“These young men were best friends getting ready to start the best years of their lives,” said Alfredo Parrish, Peak’s attorney, in a statement to Army Times. “John and Eli met going to boot camp and immediately bonded. The pain of this tragedy for both families and John is unbearable.”
Reed’s battalion posted an obituary on their Facebook page to remember him as well as offer services to soldiers who may be grieving.
“[Reed] had a bright future ahead of him,” the post said. “He will be greatly missed in the Battalion and will always be remembered[.]”
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