Unclear Answers on Gun, Procedures in Soldier's Death

New Evidence Reveals Past Firearm Incident at Letterkenny Army Depot

A recent investigation by WGAL On Your Side has uncovered new details about a previous firearms incident involving the Sig Sauer M17 at the Letterkenny Army Depot in Franklin County. The findings come as the investigation into the death of Specialist Krystofer Lopez, 18, continues.

Tasmin Mahfuz, a reporter for News 8, obtained a U.S. Army mishap report from May 2021. This document confirms a negligent discharge involving a Sig Sauer M17 at the depot five years ago, on May 29, 2021. According to the report, the weapon discharged when an employee attempted to holster it.

The employee and a witness stated that the gun operator did not have their finger on the trigger when the gun went off. Some details in the report are redacted, but what is known is that the incident occurred during the employee’s shift.

At the start of their shift, the gun operator removed their weapon and placed the barrel into a clearing barrel. They then inspected the gun, inserted a loaded magazine, and released the slide, chambering a round. The employee tried to holster the weapon twice before it fired on the third attempt.

The report states that the round went through the bottom of the holster, into the top of the employee’s cargo pocket, struck their wallet, exited near their calf, and hit the floor. A second employee confirmed that the gun operator never had their finger near the trigger.

Tasmin reached out to the Letterkenny Army Depot to ask whether any changes were made to safety protocols after this 2021 incident. However, the questions remain unanswered. It is important to note that this report only confirms a prior firearms incident involving the same platform gun and is not linked to the death of Specialist Krystofer Lopez.

As the investigation into the death of Specialist Krystofer Lopez continues, questions remain about both the weapon used in training and whether protocols were followed. Carmen Lopez, his mother, said her son mentioned he had training the next day. She and her husband, Hector, knew their son was preparing for firearms training because they spoke with him the night before he was killed.

“We told Krystofer the Army uses certain guns and we told him about it. And the M17s, the M18s. But Krystofer told us that they wouldn’t be using those guns. So, I guess we kind of maybe felt at ease at first,” Carmen said.

His parents say Krystofer was killed with an M17 handgun on his first day of firearms training. Investigators sent that weapon to a ballistics lab in Georgia for testing.

Expert Weighs in on M17 Design and Safety

We asked firearms expert and mechanical engineer Dr. Joshua Harrison what investigators are likely to look for. “They might be looking for debris,” Harrison said. “They might check the amount of play between the slide and the frame ... They would be checking that all the safety components are there.”

Harrison, a licensed pistol and range officer, served in the Marine Corps and was an Army field artillery officer, as well as a tactical and strategic intelligence officer. He believes the M17’s internal safety design is weaker than other handgun systems.

“I believe, in my opinion, the striker safety lock of the P320 or M17, or the military variants, is grossly inferior to the striker safety block plunger of a Glock or even the Sig Sauer P365,” he said. Harrison says the gun going off by itself is rare.

Harrison believes the Army made a mistake in choosing the M17 because of its design. “This thing that I'm holding is the only safety in the M17,” Harrison said. He walked us through the M17’s design over a video call.

“That spring in the M17, it’s what actuates this striker safety lock into the safe position,” he said. “Do you see that little part that sticks up there? That’s the only portion that actually interferes with the striker.”

In January 2017, Sig Sauer won a 10-year, $580 million contract with the U.S. military to replace the Beretta M9 with the P320 platform, including the M17.

“A lot of people were saying that the Army made the wrong choice, going with Sig Sauer rather than the Glock,” Harrison said.

Safety Protocols

We asked officials at Letterkenny Army Depot about their safety and training protocols involving live ammunition. Public affairs specialist Todd Wivell told us in an email: “Live ammunition training at Letterkenny Army Depot (LEAD) is governed by stringent Department of the Army (DA) regulations and specific local protocols to ensure maximum safety for personnel and the surrounding community.”

We also looked at published regulations that Letterkenny uses for safety and training. In that manual, it says: “Before granting clearance to fire ensure that: weapons and personnel are properly positioned.”

In the end, Harrison says investigators will likely look at two core questions: whether there was a problem with the gun, and whether a loaded weapon was ever allowed to point at a soldier during training.

“Generally, if you've got a loaded weapon, it shouldn't be pointed at another soldier, especially in a controlled training environment,” Harrison said.

Still, Harrison doesn’t think military safety checks need to be changed. He says existing rules should prevent a tragedy like this.

“The muzzle should never be pointed at another soldier. That’s basic,” he said. “This should not happen even under current military training protocols.”

WGAL's Tasmin Mahfuz also reviewed the Army’s training and qualification standards for the M17 pistol. Before reaching the live-fire training, soldiers must complete multiple safety steps, including:

• Weapons handling and ammunition instruction.
• Dry-fire training.
• Simulator work.
• Range safety briefings.

The Sig Sauer contract with the Army expires next year. Tasmin reached out to the Army to see if it will consider changing weapons in a new contract.

Letterkenny (LEAD) Regulation 385-1 - LEAD Safety and Occupational Health Program

TOP STORIES FROM WGAL: Emergency crews, including Maryland State Police aviation, rescue 2 people from Piney Island Dauphin County police are investigating after a human hand was found in a package at a UPS facility 23 displaced, 3 injured in York County duplex fire A funeral was held for Dy Qual Harris, a 15-year-old who was fatally shot last week in Penn Park Police | Dauphin County valet driver arrested after he sent unwanted messages to a 17-year-old

READ THE FULL STORY: Questions remain about gun, protocols followed in 18-year-old soldier's death

CHECK OUT WGAL: Stay in the know with the top stories of the day. Get all the latest Harrisburg, Lancaster and York news, weather and sports from the WGAL News Team.