Soldier who prompted Fort Lee lockdown dies from self-inflicted gunshot

WASHINGTON, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army soldier whose "irate actions" at Fort Lee on Monday morning prompted a lockdown at the military installation in central Virginia died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, military officials confirmed.

The unidentified female soldier was described by the commanding general at Fort Lee, Maj. Gen. Stephen Lyons as a sergeant first class with 14 years of service in the Army, including a 15-month deployment to Iraq in 2007. She had been assigned to Fort Lee for nearly three years.

The incident began around 8:45 a.m. EDT when the soldier walked into Fort Lee's Combined Arms Support Command Headquarters' Building 5020 carrying a small-caliber handgun. The soldier barricaded herself in an office, exhibiting what Lyons characterized as "irate actions" that included throwing things and going on a "bit of a rampage."

Fort Lee police were in communication with the soldier and "thought they had achieved a calm level of negotiations" when she shot herself in the head.

After the "all clear" was given, Fort Lee posted on Facebook that "Early reports indicate the soldier turned the weapon on herself and fired one shot, injuring herself."

She was taken to Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, where she later died.

An investigation led by Special Agents from the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command is underway.