The airman's tragic death has since led Air Force Global Strike Command to ban M18 handguns from use during an investigation.

A leaked memo called for the M18 to be pulled from use “for all operational and training activities” immediately and replaced by the M-4 rifle.

While the incident on a base in Wyoming remains under investigation, all service members in the Air Force’s Global Strike Command unit will pause use of the New Hampshire-made M18 pistol.