FBI seeks information on missing assault rifle BY BURKE WASSON
BY BURKE WASSON,
[email protected]December 15, 2005
An assault rifle last used in October by U.S. Army personnel at an NAS Fallon training range has been reported missing, and FBI agents have now been called on board for assistance.
According to the FBI's Reno office, a U.S. Army Colt M-4 rifle has been missing since Oct. 11 from an NAS Fallon training range.
FBI Special Agent David Staretz confirmed Wednesday that the weapon was last seen while an Army unit was conducting a training exercise at Bravo 17, which is 35 miles east of the Naval Air Station and just south of U.S. Highway 50.
According to the FBI, the weapon's configuration makes it illegal for anyone not part of either the U.S. military or an authorized law enforcement agency to possess the rifle. Anyone convicted of illegal possession of such a missing rifle could face up to 10 years in federal prison.
Staretz said he believes the Army unit that last used the weapon contacted the FBI for help in the matter after conducting an unsuccessful search of its own.
"I believe we were approached by the Army," Staretz said. "They came to us and asked us for help. This is something they can maybe better find by getting the word out to the public."
FBI flyers advertising a $1,000 reward for information leading to the rifle's recovery are currently posted at various locations in Fallon.
NAS Fallon Public Affairs Officer Zip Upham said he could not speculate as to how the assault rifle could have been lost from one of the base's training ranges.
Because the weapon was last seen while in the use of the U.S. Army unit in training, Upham said the Navy has no involvement in the investigation and is looking to the Army and FBI to conduct the recovery procedure.
"While the range is used by other units and branches of the military from time to time in both airborne missions and ground training, how it (the rifle) could have gone missing is more inclusive to the unit," Upham said. "Unfortunately, not only is the Navy not involved in the investigation, but it's up to how the Army handles it when a weapon comes missing. And in this case, they've gone to the FBI."
Upham said the missing U.S. Army Colt M-4 rifle is essentially a version of the U.S. Navy's M-16 rifle.
According to the FBI, the blue-barreled rifle has the number 107 stenciled in white across the top rear portion of its collapsible buttstock. Its serial number is W_501.
FBI reports indicate that during the weapon's last use, it was set up to fire Simunition 9 millimeter caliber training rounds, which have a similar effect as paintball rounds.
At this point, both Staretz and Upham said public assistance is necessary in order to secure the weapon's recovery.
"Having done a physical search of the area and coming up stumped, I suppose that now the next step is seeing if anyone has heard anything," Upham said.
Anyone with information leading to the rifle's recovery is asked to contact FBI Special Agent Kip R. Steele at the Reno Resident Agency by calling 775-825-6600.