By NICK BONHAM
THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN
Detectives on Thursday maintained that the fatal shooting of a newly discharged Fort Carson soldier by another serviceman late Wednesday was an accident.
"It was just a small group of people, sitting around listening to music, talking - we found no signs of alcohol - and the guy was cleaning his gun when it accidentally went off and struck our victim. We interviewed everyone that was present at the time and everyone's stories are consistent," said Detective Don Litton of the Pueblo Police Department.
The victim was identified as 21-year-old Richard Medina of San Angelo, Texas.
He died at 10:35 p.m. in the emergency room at Parkview Medical Center, according to Pueblo County Coroner James Kramer.
"He died shortly after arriving at the hospital. There was no organ donation accomplished," Kramer said, dispelling earlier police reports that an attempt was under way to save Medina's organs for medical use. Medina had held the rank of a specialist and was a mortarman with the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson. An Army spokesman said Medina joined the Army in June 2005 and that he was discharged Wednesday.
Police said Medina was expecting his first child with a 17-year-old girlfriend, who witnessed the shooting.
Pfc. Antonio Alvarado, 26, who police and Fort Carson officials said is from Puerto Rico, was cleaning his personal .45-caliber handgun in his kitchen when it accidentally fired and struck Medina in the head.
The incident happened about 10 p.m. at Alvarado's house, 3237 W. 18th St.
Like Medina, Alvarado, who is still on active duty, is a mortarman stationed with the 4th Infantry Division. Both served overseas in Iraq - Medina from October 2006 to December, and Alvarado from April 2007 to December.
Medina and Alvarado earned the same military awards, including the National Defense Service Medal, Iraqi campaign medal, overseas service ribbon, combat infantryman badge and Global War on Terror Service Medal.