An IRS agent has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in the fatal shooting of a fellow officer at a Phoenix shooting range after a training exercise gone awry last year, authorities said.
Special Agent Larry Edward Brown, Jr. was indicted following the death of fellow IRS Criminal Investigations agent, Special Agent Patrick Bauer, who was shot once in the torso after a training session at the Federal Correctional Institution’s range on August 17, 2023, according to court documents obtained by azfamily.com.
Bauer, 47, was a retired master sergeant and an IRS agent who served over two decades with the Arizona Air National Guard, including multiple overseas deployments. His untimely death has left behind a widow and four children. In a statement, Maj. Gen. Kerry L. Muehlenbeck, Arizona National Guard Adjutant General, commemorated Bauer's service, saying, "Our hearts go out to MSgt Bauer’s family, friends, and all those who had the privilege to work with him. His service to the state and nation will forever be remembered," as reported by azfamily.com.
Prosecutors said that Brown and Bauer were the only two people inside the gun range’s tower room when the weapon was discharged. A witness recounted seeing a distraught Brown exit the tower yelling, "I f***** up, I shot Pat!" as per indictment details shared by 12news.com. Court documents further disclose Brown's repeated self-incriminating mutterings at the hospital where he was treated for shock, admitting, "I'm a Use of Force instructor. I should know better."
Brown, 42, now faces up to an eight-year prison sentence if convicted. He was reportedly released after appearing in court and has a trial date set for April 2. IRS-Criminal Investigations, the law enforcement division where both men worked as special agents, oversees tax crime investigations and has over 2,100 special agents globally. This incident marks the first shooting death involving the agency, according to data from the Officer Down Memorial Page.
