ONSLOW, NORTH CAROLINA: A 19-year-old Marine, who was fatally shot in barracks at Camp Lejeune on Wednesday night, October 18, has been identified as Lance Corporal Austin Schwenk.
Schwenk, a North Carolina native, wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps who was also a Marine.
Schwenk was an electro-optical ordnance repairer with the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, at the North Carolina base.
When was Austin Schwenk enlisted?
Schwent was enlisted in the Marine Corps in June 2022 and attended boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina. His awards include the National Defense Service Medal, according to Marine Times.
He was born in Onslow County, where Camp Lejeune is located, but later graduated from high school in Ohio.
“I chose the Marines because I’ve grown up around a Marine. My father was a Marine, and he’s always given me a reason to look up to him,” Schwenk told the News Herald in May 2022.
“I chose the Marines for the simple fact that they will give me the discipline and leadership that I believe I will be able to use later in my life,” he said at the time.
Austin Schwenk's death is being investigated as a homicide
The Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) is investigating Schwenk’s death as a homicide and has arrested another unidentified Marine on Wednesday, October 18, at around 10.15 pm for his alleged involvement in the shooting.
“Out of respect for the investigative process, NCIS will not comment further while the investigation remains ongoing,” NCIS spokesman Jeff Houston told Marine Corps Times.
The shooting was initially reported as a mass shooting on Wednesday, October 18, but was quickly confirmed by officials as an isolated incident.
“There was no mass shooting incident aboard Camp Lejeune, there was an isolated incident involving two Marines,” Giarrizzo said on Thursday, October 20.
“Our deepest condolences go out to the Marine’s family and friends at this time,” Giarrizzo added.
Base surrounding community are home to active Marines, retirees, and civilian employees
The homicide occurred two days before the base conducted annual training known as Exercise Urgent Response.
It said the training “provides an opportunity for tenant commands to develop and exercise emergency security procedures,” according to a press release, as reported.
Camp Lejeune covers 240 square miles of the North Carolina coast which is 140 miles southeast of Raleigh, according to the New York Post.
The base and the surrounding community are home to about 170,000 residents, including active-duty Marines, retirees, and civilian employees.
Camp Lejeune hosts II Marine Expeditionary Force, the largest branch base on the coast.
In 2021, a Marine from the 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, was shot and wounded in their barracks after which the incident was determined as accidental, according to reports.
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