Active duty U.S. Army soldier commits suicide with gun stolen from shooting range
CLARKSVILLE TN June 14 2018 — An investigation into the death of a U.S. Army soldier on leave in Clarksville is ongoing.
Pfc. Bryan N. Njoroge, 21, of McKinney, Texas, was found unconscious on Clarksville High School property near the announcer station at the school’s baseball field around 3:30 p.m. Saturday, according to a police report. The responding officer observed a gun and a “large amount of blood” surrounding Njoroge.
Clark County Coroner Billy Scott said Tuesday the death is preliminarily attributed to a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Toxicology results are pending.
A second police report from the Clarksville Police Department shows that a gun was reported stolen from American Shooters around 8 p.m. Friday. Using witness statements and security footage, police identified the theft suspect as Njoroge, who had left his military I.D. at the business.
An employee told police Njoroge had been in the indoor range three times during the day, each time renting the same gun. Njoroge reportedly came out to the front counter around 8:10 p.m. As other customers entered the store, Njoroge “slowly made his way away from the front counter towards the door” and left the store, according to the police report.
Njoroge was found deceased outside Clarksville High School the next day. The school is located less than a half-mile from American Shooters.
The owner of American Shooters has not yet returned a message from the News and Tribune. According its website, all shooting lanes are supervised by certified National Rifle Association Range Safety officers. All customers using the shooting range are required to provide valid I.D., sign a liability waiver and view a short safety video.
Njoroge was assigned to the 14th Human Resources Sustainment Center, 1st TSC at Fort Knox, Ky., according to a news release from the U.S. Army. He was on leave in Clarksville at the time of his death.
“We are incredibly saddened by the loss of one [of] our teammates,” Col. Angela Jenkins, director, 14th HRSC, stated in the release. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Pfc. Njoroge’s family and loved ones. Our top priority is to ensure they have the local support and resources they need during this emotionally difficult time.”
Njoroge joined the Army in November 2016.
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