SGT BRIAN JANIS

January 20, 1971 - October 11, 2002
Fort Huachuca, Arizona



ONE SOLDIER DEAD, ONE WOUNDED
IN ON-POST SHOOTING INCIDENT
The Fort Huachuca Scout
by Katherine Goode, Scout Staff

A military police sergeant is dead and another was wounded as a result of a shooting incident that took place on the installation near Wren Arena Friday night, according to post officials.

Dead is Sgt. Brian Janis, 31, of the 18th Military Police Detachment. Wounded in the shooting was Sgt. First Class Lyman L. Holton, 46, also assigned to the 18th Military Police Detachment. Although an investigation into the incident has not yet been completed, it is alleged that Janis was distraught and came to the post at approximately 3 p.m. with his privately owned handgun.

His fellow military policemen, including Holton, reportedly attempted to talk with Janis to calm him, but were unable to do so. At around 7:30 p.m., while Holton attempted to talk with him, Janis is reported to have made a suicidal gesture with his handgun and Holton, who was unarmed, intervened.

In the ensuing struggle, Holton was shot an unknown number of times by Janis’ weapon.


At that point, other military police at the scene fired their weapons at Janis, fatally wounding him.

Holton, a native of St. Paul, Minn., and 17-year veteran of military service, was transported to the Sierra Vista Hospital and was subsequently transferred to the University Medical Center in Tucson where is reported in stable condition following surgery for his wounds. He is expected to make a full recovery.

Following the incident, the Fort Huachuca Chaplain Activities Office began providing grief counseling to

the family members, as well as, members of the 18th Military Police Detachment.

Plans for a memorial service and funeral for Sgt. Janis are pending. Janis had been in the U.S. Army for eight years and claimed Tucson as his home. He is survived by his wife and three children, ages 7, 9, and 11 years. Command officials have conveyed their condolences to the family.


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