SAN ANTONIO, April 10 (UPI) — The airman who killed a commanding officer at Lackland Air Base and then himself was a former FBI agent and Iraq war veteran with a short but storied history with the Air Force.
Technical Sgt. Steven D. Bellino was identified as the gunman in the Friday murder-suicide that also left Lt. Col. William A. Schroeder dead. Schroeder was Bellino’s commanding officer at the 342nd Training Squadron at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland.
Bellino, 41, of Parma Heights, Ohio, served about 20 years in the Army and was an Iraq war veteran. He was an FBI agent for about two years, until he resigned in 2013. He joined the Air Force in June.
The Air Force has released few details about the shooting or the relationship between the men. Preliminary information said Bellino was being escorted to a disciplinary hearing when he opened fire, killing Schroeder. Bellino was found with two Glock pistols.
Local media reported Bellino failed a water endurance test and walked off the base without following proper procedure. He went AWOL from San Antonio but was later found in Ohio and brought back to Lackland.
Schroeder, 39, a native of Ames, Iowa, had been a commander of the squadron since 2014. After entering the Air Force in 1999, he earned several commendations,including a Bronze Star.
“The 37th Training Wing mourns the loss of our airmen and family members,” wing commander Brig. Gen. Trent Edwards said. “Our primary focus at this time is to take care of the family and the men and women who are grieving our losses. A tragedy of this type is felt by each and every member, but we will pull together to help our own.”
