By Sig Christenson
San Antonio Express-News
SAN ANTONIO — The Air Force squadron commander killed Friday in a murder-suicide at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland’s Medina Annex “went out swinging” after a confrontation in his office, sacrificing himself to save a non-commissioned officer, a veteran airman said.
In a message on the social media Facebook, Chief Master Sgt. Matthew Nugent said that Lt. Col. William “Bill” Schroeder, commander of the 342nd Training Squadron, was killed in Forbes Hall by a “disgruntled” technical sergeant who was facing a disciplinary hearing.
The building used to train airmen for such tasks as Tactical Air Control Parties, or TACPs, who call in close-air support for ground troops.
The Air Force identified Schroeder and Technical Sgt. Steven D. Bellino, a 342nd Training Squadron student, as the two dead men, but did not release details about the murder-suicide.
A brief statement from Brig. Gen. Trent Edwards, commander of the 37th Training Wing, described Schroeder as “an amazing airman, father and husband,” and asked airmen not to speculate about the incident on social media.
A separate account of the incident, posted Saturday morning in a blog posted on the internet and later pulled because of complaints, said that the technical sergeant had been with a senior NCO prior to the shooting. When the assailant, armed with two Glock handguns, produced a weapon, Schroeder told the senior NCO, a first sergeant, to run.
The blog claimed the technical sergeant had been an FBI agent. An official confirmed that he had briefly served with the agency.
During the struggle, the technical sergeant fired at the first sergeant but missed her as she fled. Schroeder then fought with the assailant and was shot three times in the arm before being shot in the head.
The account could not be confirmed by Air Force officials at Joint Base San Antonio, which is handling the case. The San Antonio Express-News asked to speak with someone from the command, but they declined to respond.
A brief statement from Brig. Gen. Trent Edwards, commander of the 37th Training Wing, described Schroeder as “an amazing airman, father and husband,” and asked airmen not to speculate about the incident on social media.
Nugent, who commands the Tactical Air Control Party schoolhouse at Forbes Hall, did not return messages or an email. He announced Schroeder’s death to a TACP group on Facebook, telling them he wanted to “share the news on the loss of a great leader, officer … and friend.
“Lt Col William “Bill” Schroeder, commander 342 TRS, was killed yesterday by a disgruntled student who was being administered (nonjudicial punishment),” Nugent continued in the Facebook message. “Know that Bill went out swinging. He selflessly gave his life to protect our (first sergeant) and countless others who were in the building.”
Nugent went on to tell the group that family, friends and neighbors were providing support to Schroeder’s widow, and asked that members “please keep Bill’s family in your thoughts and prayers in this time of need as he left behind a wonderful loving wife and two amazing boys.”
Copyright 2016 the San Antonio Express-News