New information reveals Air Force could have prevented Airman’s death

The parents of a young airman who was found dead in Alaska just over a year ago are still searching for answers.

On December 23, 2023, Airman Tanner Young was discovered dead by Alaska State Troopers. At the time of his death, Young was assigned to Eielson Air Force Base in Fairbanks, Alaska. His death was ruled a suicide.

According to Alaska Department of Public Safety records, the Alaska State Troopers conducted a thorough investigation. Evidence collected at the scene, interviews conducted, and the State Medical Examiner’s autopsy report led to the conclusion that Tanner Young died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

“No foul play is suspected, and our investigation is closed,” the Alaska State Troopers stated. The determination was ultimately made by military law enforcement.

“When deaths of service members occur on military installations, the military law enforcement entity takes the lead in determining if foul play is suspected as well as the cause and manner of death,” they added.

Young’s parents, Bobby and Julie Young, remain dissatisfied with the investigation and the information provided by the Air Force. Seeking clarity, they hired attorney Dennis Shepherd about four months ago to look into the circumstances surrounding their son’s death.

Shepherd reported that the Air Force heavily redacted documents related to Young’s death when responding to his requests.

“I submitted an open records request to Alaska for their investigation and received over 50 files. I also made a Freedom of Information Act request to the Air Force for their OSI (Office of Special Investigations) report. Unfortunately, the OSI report was so heavily redacted that it was more frustrating than useful,” Shepherd said.

Unsatisfied with the documentation, Shepherd sought insights directly from Young’s colleagues. He distributed a questionnaire to airmen who had served with Young at Eielson, specifically those in the 354th Logistics Squadron. According to Shepherd, the responses he received painted a troubling picture of life at the base.

“It was a relentlessly depressing environment,” said one respondent, identified as Airman B, in comments reported by NBC Lex18 News.

“The same airman mentioned that the number of suicides and suicide attempts was absurd,” Shepherd added.

An Air Force incident report from 2023 stated that Young’s estranged wife, Mackenzie, had called with concerns about his safety and reported that he was suicidal.

“When you piece this together, you have someone who had just been recognized as Airman of the Quarter, someone his colleagues admired, and someone whose spouse called in expressing concerns for his well-being. It just doesn’t add up,” Shepherd said.

He went on to criticize the leadership of the 354th Logistics Squadron and the Air Force for failing to adequately support Young.

“Our focus moving forward is to hold the squadron leadership and the Air Force accountable for their neglect of duty to protect their airmen,” Shepherd concluded.

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