Airman Arrested in Connection With Fatal Shooting Involving M18 Pistol at Wyoming Base

The U.S. Air Force has arrested an airman in connection with the July 20 death of a fellow airman at F.E. Warren Air Force Base – a case that has factored into controversy over the SIG Sauer M18 pistol.

The unidentified person is accused of making a false official statement, obstruction of justice and involuntary manslaughter, the Air Force said in  Friday statement. The service did not give additional details, citing an ongoing investigation.

Airman Brayden Lovan, 21, was a remote targeting engagement system operator assigned to the 90th Security Forces Group. On July 20, Lovan was fatally shot with an M18 pistol under circumstances that remain unclear.

Brandon Lovan

In the wake of the shooting, Air Force Global Strike Command ordered all M18 pistols removed from service pending a safety review. 

The M18, along with the full-size M17, is a military adaptation of Sig Sauer’s P320, a pistol that has been dogged for years by allegations that it can discharge without the trigger being pulled. Lawsuits and media investigations have documented cases in which civilian and law enforcement users claim the weapon “went off” unexpectedly, causing injuries.

Sig Sauer has vigorously denied the allegations, stating that “the P320 pistol will not fire unless the trigger is pulled.” The company has faced multiple civil suits over the alleged defect, some of which have been settled out of court.

The Air Force adopted the M17 and M18 in 2019 as part of a Department of Defense-wide handgun replacement program. The compact M18 has been issued across security forces units, often carried in close-quarters and high-stress situations—raising questions among firearms safety experts about the potential consequences of an unintentional discharge.

“As with all individuals accused of a crime, the person arrested in this case is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law,” the Air Force statement said.