Commander ‘went out swinging’ in Lackland murder-suicide

FBI personnel stand near a vehicle located inside Lackland AFB, Medina Annex on Friday, Apr. 8, 2016. Earlier, two men died in an apparent murder-suicide near Forbes Hall within the annex Friday morning that left the base locked down for nearly 2 hours, officials said. less FBI personnel stand near a vehicle located inside Lackland AFB, Medina Annex on Friday, Apr. 8, 2016. Earlier, two men died in an apparent murder-suicide near Forbes Hall within the annex Friday morning that ... more Photo: Kin Man Hui, San Antonio Express-News Photo: Kin Man Hui, San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 50 Caption Close Commander ‘went out swinging’ in Lackland murder-suicide 1 / 50 Back to Gallery

The Air Force squadron commander killed Friday in a murder-suicide at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland’s Medina Annex “went out swinging” after a confrontation in his office, sacrificing himself to save a non-commissioned officer, a veteran airman said.

In a message on the social media Facebook, Chief Master Sgt. Matthew Nugent said that Lt. Col. William “Bill” Schroeder, commander of the 342nd Training Squadron, was killed in Forbes Hall by a “disgruntled” technical sergeant who was facing a disciplinary hearing.

The building used to train airmen for such tasks as Tactical Air Control Parties, or TACPs, who call in close-air support for ground troops.

The Air Force identified Schroeder, 39, a veteran special operations commander originally from Ames, Iowa as the victim of the attack. The shooter was identified as Technical Sgt. Steven D. Bellino, 41, of Parma Heights, Ohio.

The assailant, Technical Sgt. Steven D. Bellino, was a former FBI agent and Army veteran of Iraq who joined the Air Force to become a pararescuer. He went AWOL after failing a water endurance test.

A brief statement from Brig. Gen. Trent Edwards, commander of the 37th Training Wing, described Schroeder as “an amazing airman, father and husband,” and asked airmen not to speculate about the incident on social media.

A separate account of the incident, posted Saturday morning in a blog posted on the internet and later pulled because of complaints, said that the technical sergeant had been with a senior NCO prior to the shooting. When the assailant, armed with two Glock handguns, produced a weapon, Schroeder told the senior NCO, a first sergeant, to run.

During the struggle, the technical sergeant fired at the first sergeant but missed her as she fled. Schroeder then fought with the assailant and was shot three times in the arm before being shot in the head.

The account could not be confirmed by Air Force officials at Joint Base San Antonio, which is handling the case. The San Antonio Express-News asked to speak with someone from the command, but they declined to respond.

The San Antonio Express-News confirmed that Bellino had failed a water endurance test and walked off without following the proper procedure. He left San Antonio and went AWOL, and later was taken into custody in Ohio and brought back to Lackland.

On Friday Bellino came to Forbes Hall on the pretext of accepting nonjudicial punishment, according to the blog and law enforcement and military sources who spoke on background because of the ongoing investigation.

A brief statement from Brig. Gen. Trent Edwards, commander of the 37th Training Wing, described Schroeder as “an amazing airman, father and husband,” and asked airmen not to speculate about the incident on social media.

Nugent, who commands the Tactical Air Control Party schoolhouse at Forbes Hall, did not return messages or an email. He announced Schroeder’s death to a TACP group on Facebook, telling them he wanted to “share the news on the loss of a great leader, officer … and friend.

“Lt Col William “Bill” Schroeder, commander 342 TRS, was killed yesterday by a disgruntled student who was being administered (nonjudicial punishment),” Nugent continued in the Facebook message. “Know that Bill went out swinging. He selflessly gave his life to protect our (first sergeant) and countless others who were in the building.”

Nugent went on to tell the group that family, friends and neighbors were providing support to Schroeder’s widow, and asked that members “please keep Bill's family in your thoughts and prayers in this time of need as he left behind a wonderful loving wife and two amazing boys.”

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