Navy officials have identified Seaman Juan Gerardo Medina-Reynaga as the sailor shot and killed by security personnel following a high-speed car chase at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek, Virginia.
Medina-Reynaga, 25, served as an aviation boatswain’s mate (fuels) airman aboard the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush, a Navy Region Mid-Atlantic news release says. He joined the Navy in 2015 and had previously served aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise.
On Aug. 2, security personnel at Little Creek stopped Medina-Reynaga for driving erratically around 9:50 p.m., the news release says. Medina-Reynaga allegedly tried to speed away from authorities and a chase ensued.
When security personnel used automatic barriers to try to prevent Medina-Reynaga from leaving the base, he turned into a Navy Exchange Mini Mart and hit a gas pump, immobilizing his 2016 Dodge Charger, the news release says.
Medina-Reynaga allegedly tried to run away and then got into a scuffle with pursuing security personnel, the news release says. When he allegedly tried to grab one of the security officer’s weapons, he was shot and killed at around 10:50 p.m.
The officer who shot Medina-Reynaga has been placed on administrative duties pending the results of an investigation, the news release says. Two security personnel were treated for minor injuries at the scene.