Airman Detained After Carrying Gun Near Dorm

An airman in training at Sheppard Air Force Base was in military custody Monday after toting a shotgun outside a dormitory.

George Woodward, a spokesman for base, said no shots were fired and nobody was hurt during the incident Sunday night.

Woodward had no details on how the airman, whose name was not immediately released, acquired the shotgun.

"We wouldn't issue a weapon to an airman in training," he said.

The base was shut down following the incident, which was reported at 9:08 p.m. Sunday, but it reopened shortly before midnight, Woodward said.

Base security forces received a call about a man with a weapon outside Building 776, which houses male and female personnel, he said. Security confronted the airman and he dropped the shotgun, according to Woodward.

"There was no indication of that he was targeting anyone specific," said Woodward, who could not immediately say whether the suspect lived in the dorm.

The housing complex is a multistory structure with individual rooms typically shared by two airmen. The dormitory was searched and secured following the incident, Woodward said.

Sheppard is home to the 82nd Training Wing and the 80th Flying Training Wing.

Wichita Falls is about 130 miles northwest of Dallas.

On the Net: http://www.sheppard.af.mil