Tennessee Guardsman killed in armory
Parachutecutie sends us a link to the story of a Tennessee National Guardsman, Sergeant First Class Michael Braden who was shot while he was at work in an armory. Police suspect 15-year-old Christopher Farrar who was booted from school for drug use;
Sgt. Braden, from Ripley, Tenn., was a Readiness Non-commissioned Officer (NCO) who coordinated day-to-day activities and schedules at the armory.
He joined the Army National Guard in 1987 and was deployed twice to Kuwait with a transportation company out of Brownsville.
A graduate of Ripley High School, Sgt. Braden is survived by his wife Jennifer and their three children.
Of course, the teen’s family doesn’t think he did it, even though several other weapons were found at the home where he staying;
News 2 talked exclusively with Farrar’s aunt, Rebecca Chambers, who said her heart goes out to the victim’s family, but she does not believe her nephew is behind the senseless act.
“We will leave it to the investigators to do their job and hopefully find the right person. I just can’t believe that Christopher is responsible for this,” Chambers said.
She explained Farrar was living with her and his grandmother for the summer.
Yeah, if our justice system relied solely on the testimony of the accused perpetrator’s families, our jails would be empty. One of the last things that SFC Braden had done before his death was to drop off his son at the recruiter’s office to turn the youngster over to the Army for basic training;
More on the gunman;
His Facebook page tells a different story. His cover page depicts marijuana leaves and he belonged to a Facebook group named “Hail Satan.”
Category: Crime
RIP SFC Braden.
That’s impossible. There’s no way the kid could have taken a firearm into the armory.
All the armories I’ve seen lately have a “No Firearms Allowed” sign on the door.
Just like the ones outside the post I work on.
/mega-sarc
And to add insult to injury, VI: I’m guessing SFC Braden was assigned a weapon that was stored in that building. But he almost certainly wasn’t authorized to have that assigned military weapon with him at his normal place of duty, either. I’m guessing it had to be kept in the arms room at all times except while participating in specified training activities.
Rest in peace, SFC Braden. Rest in peace.
I’ve been a Tennessee guardsmen for about 13 years and heard about this yesterday. Though I did not know you SFC Braden, you will be remembered. God speed brother.
I’m with the Brigade command element for this soldier, but I also did not know him. I must say that his son seems to be dealing with a very hard blow with amazingly good grace.
Lot of emphasis on security at drill this weekend-new procedures, briefings, etc.
When they say armory, do they mean the fenced off areas located in various towns with military vehicles in them, or are they talking about an actual armory used to house weapons which are heavily secured? When I read the headline, that was the first thing I thought of and immediately wondered how a civilian could gain such easy access to a facility like that. Then I remembered that is also what they call some NG locations.
Regardless, expect people to use this incident as more fuel for their argument that guns cant protect people, just like they did with the Ft Hood shootings, not realizing military bases have a strict “no personal firearms policy”.
RIP Sergeant First Class Braden.
“Fair winds and following seas.”
“When they say armory, do they mean the fenced off areas located in various towns with military vehicles in them, or are they talking about an actual armory used to house weapons which are heavily secured?”
For the Guard it is generally one in the same. Most Guard Armories (aka Reserve Centers in the Reserve Components)have secured arms vaults to house the unit’s weapons accessible (day-to-day) by the unit’s Supply NCO and Readiness NCO.
Unlike the other Reserve Components (usually) however, the Guard also tends to recruit out of their armories (vice a store front colocated with the active component) outside of the unit’s reserve center. So these armories have to be accesible to potential recruits.
Ok. Thanks, I am not very familiar with the Guard component stateside, I have only really interacted with them overseas.
Rest In Peace Michael Braden. God bless and comfort your wife and children during this terrible time.
As for 15-year-old Christopher Farrar. I hope he is tried as an adult and gets the full penalty. His family of course will maintain what a good boy he was, even after the investigation is complete and he is charged, tried and found guilty.
In MA that is Life WITH (eligibility for) Parole
Rest In Peace Brother in Arms.
A tragic and senseless loss! RIP Sergeant First Class Braden.
When I was flying a desk at the armory, I had a .45 taped under my center desk drawer (I know, I know, I saw it in a movie and it was more convenient than putting it in a drawer). The RNCO (same office) had a similar set-up, but his holster was attached to the armrest of his chair. Mind you, this was back in 04-06, so we were still a little higher in the alert than most places.
Then again, our armory also shared a parking lot with the local cop-shop (which made accidentally setting off the arms vault alarm an adventure in itself).
I’m in a reserve unit in Nashville. Chances are pretty good we’ll be hearing about this at our next drill. Likely in the form of a physical security briefing if I were to take a wild guess. RIP SFC Braden.
Need more information.
15 year old at military armories?
Also where those found weapons from said armory?
How did the police know go to after a 15 year old for this? Was there video tape or witnesses?
Most armories have controlled access (key card locks)and securuity cameras. There are however general public acesses for potential Recruits and others having business with the armory manager.
On any given day a typical armory will have at least a Readiness NCO (E-7), Admin NCO (E-5/6), Supply NCO (E-6) and any number of guys/gals on temp orders assisting the above.
Our armory was the same way, during my unit’s deployment. There was our Readiness/Admin NCO (E-6), Supply NCO (me, E-5), Decruiting NCO (E-7, but as worthless as an E-3), Armory Operations Technician (civilian, but former Infantryman), and we had at least one 11-series on site doing something (whether on orders or not).
Our squad rooms, motor pool (maintenance bay), and locker room were all locked (with the supply room also containing the alarmed arms room). The vehicle yard and storage shed were locked, as well. However, the main doors were always open for recruits, families, and the occasional cop who wanted good coffee.
Not only that a Guard Armory (being state owned) unlike a Reserve Center (federally owned) is in a lot of places a key community center which host food distribution, ASVAB testing, voting,GED classes, basketball games, etc, etc
Not sure about the weapons, but it would seem that they would have that info back long before now.
As to how did the police know who to go after, seems that boy genius left an electronic trail. He texted someone that “Ima go to the armory and kill everyone until they kill me.” He wanted “to make history”. After he shot the SFC, he called her and said he’d done it. The news didn’t report who may have called the police, which is fine. http://www.wsmv.com/story/26000012/15-year-old-suspect-in-armory-shooting-appears-in-court
I was a Guard Readiness NCO for two hellish years. My supply sergeant had access to the weapons vault (in his office), but it’s not like we were issued weapons to carry around, nor did he have any ammunition in said vault. The old Tacoma armory (now condemned and retired) was not exactly in the nicest neighborhood, but as with all military facilities of which I’m aware, going armed was strictly verboten except for very specific circumstances.
We theoretically had locked front doors, but people routinely let passersby in if they knocked. There was no other security to speak of, although there was a courthouse almost next door.
God bless SFC Braden and his family. Private Braden, make your father proud. Thanks God SFC Braden was able to see his son off.
I don’t know what the 15-year-old punk’s motivation was, but… you like Satan? Satan can have you.
RIP SFC but O-4E we need to remain cognizant of OPSEC.
Remember back in the day, as a National Guardsman, the weapons were kept in a vault, ammo was drawn from an active duty installation, and the firing pins were stored at the local police station.