Soldier Who Shot Herself at Fort Lee Pronounced Dead

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Stephen Lyons speaks during a news conference at the Fort Lee military base in Virginia on Monday. Associated Press

WASHINGTON—An Army soldier died Monday after turning a gun on herself as she was negotiating with officers after barricading herself in a base office at Fort Lee, Va., military officials said.

The soldier, whose name hasn't yet been released, died at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center on Monday morning after base officials said she shot herself in the head. The incident is under investigation, Fort Lee spokesman Stephen Baker said.

The woman is a 14-year Army veteran who held the rank of sergeant first class and had been at Fort Lee, a major training base, for three years. She served a 15-month deployment in Iraq beginning in 2007, officials said.

The incident began when the soldier brought a handgun into the Combined Arms Support Command headquarters on the base at about 8:45 a.m., Mr. Baker said. At a news conference later Monday, Maj. Gen. Stephen Lyons, the head of the Combined Arms Support Command, said the soldier went on a "rampage" in the office, throwing objects around the room. As law-enforcement officials tried to negotiate with her, she shot herself, Gen. Lyons said.

Fort Lee, located near Richmond, was placed on lockdown for about an hour Monday morning as the incident unfolded. Gen. Lyons provided no explanation for the woman's actions. Around 1,100 people were inside the building at the time.

—Felicia Schwartz

A security guard opens a gate at the visitor entrance to the Fort Lee military base on Monday. Associated Press

Source : http://online.wsj.com/articles/shooter-reported-at-fort-lee-army-base-in-virginia-1408974954