NEWS
Holloman Air Force Base shooter identified
Authorities say former military member shot an airman during domestic incident at base near Alamogordo
Published
Military officials have identified a woman who they say shot an airman after an alleged domestic dispute before turning the gun on herself Tuesday evening outside a store at Holloman Air Force Base.
Ashanti Stewart, 23, who had been previously stationed at the base as a paralegal, was pronounced dead at the scene. The airman she shot — in what officials described as a domestic incident — was taken to a hospital, according to a Friday news release from Denise Ottaviano, spokesperson for the base. Officials say the airman is in stable condition, but they did not elaborate on the extent of his injuries.
Stewart’s aunt, Aina Stewart, said she was a vibrant, happy person who enjoyed the outdoors. She often spent time in nature and loved all bodies of water, especially the ocean.
“She loved to just laugh and found the upside in everything,” Aina Stewart said.
Her uncle, Jean Sada, said she was a positive woman who helped everyone whenever she could.
“She was always loving, joking and looking out for people,” Sada said. “She was always the first to help.”
Officials for the base, located near Alamogordo, said the shooting stemmed from an “isolated incident” that occurred between Stewart and an unidentified airman. The two were not married, according to officials.
The release states the shooting was “domestic related” and there was no threat to the community.
The base was placed on lockdown around 5:30 p.m. after reports of an active shooter, and a convenience store named the Shoppette was closed for multiple days afterward. It resumed normal business hours Friday, according to a Facebook post from the base.
Additional details, such as what led to the incident or how long Stewart had been with the base, were not released. Officials declined to answer further questions.
“We ask that individuals avoid speculating on social media regarding the incident out of respect for the families involved,” Otaviano wrote in the release.
Nakayla McClelland covers crime and breaking news. Reach her at nmcclelland@abqjournal.com or at 505-823-3857.
