A Saturday night outing at the Belton Lake Outdoor Recreation Area on the Fort Cavazos reservation ended in gunfire, leaving one person dead and several others in area hospitals, according to Army officials. Two military police officers responded to reports of a fight at the lakeside recreation area, and multiple rounds were fired. The Army Criminal Investigation Division has opened a probe and said the investigation is still in its preliminary stages.
According to KEYE, the incident began at about 9 p.m. Saturday when military police officers were called to reports of fighting at the Belton Lake Outdoor Recreation Area. Several people were taken to nearby hospitals, and one civilian later died at a hospital, the Army said. A service member received minor injuries at the scene and was treated and released, and the Army Criminal Investigation Division is leading the investigation.
Scene and Video
Video obtained by KWTX shows military police trying to break up a large fight before multiple rounds are fired and people sprint for cover. A woman who spoke to KWTX said her 21-year-old son, Kaden Johnson, was shot twice and airlifted to a trauma center; she told the station he underwent surgery and was in stable condition. KWTX reports a Fort Cavazos official saying responders secured the scene and there was no ongoing threat after the incident.
BLORA and the Base
The Belton Lake Outdoor Recreation Area, known locally as BLORA, is an Army Morale, Welfare, and Recreation facility on Fort Cavazos that offers camping, boating, and miles of trails. The facility directory lists its office on Cottage Road and notes that BLORA operates around the clock for authorized patrons, according to the Army MWR site. BLORA draws military families and civilians and is governed by base security and access rules.
Investigation and How to Report Tips
The Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division is leading the inquiry and has said the probe is in its early stages. The Army is asking anyone with information to submit tips at www.p3tips.com/armycid or by calling 254-287-2722, according to KEYE. Investigators typically interview witnesses, collect video, and process forensic evidence as they work to build a timeline of the events.
What Investigators Will Look At
The Army Criminal Investigation Division conducts independent, felony-level investigations on Army property and can process crime scenes, gather evidence, and interview witnesses, according to the Army CID. The agency encourages anyone with relevant information to come forward so investigators can follow up on leads. It was not immediately clear whether any personnel actions or criminal charges would follow the preliminary probe.
