Man shot dead at MacDill Air Force Base

A U.S. Army veteran who was a guest at MacDill Air Force Base was shot and killed Wednesday night by an FBI agent after an altercation, FBI and base officials said.

The victim, whose name hasn't been released, was involved in a dispute at around 6 p.m. at the base's Family Camp, a recreational vehicle area at the south end of the base, said Col. Larry Martin, 6th Air Mobility Wing commander.

Base security was called to the scene and the man involved in the incident fled on a motorcycle at a high rate of speed. Security tried to stop him, but he evaded staff and drove toward the gate at Dale Mabry Highway, officials said.

An FBI liaison who happened to be on base assisted base security. He approached the suspect, who had ditched his motorcycle and was wielding a knife as he walked toward the FBI agent.

The agent shot and killed him just inside the Dale Mabry Highway gate, said Tampa FBI Special Agent Dave Couvertier. The FBI is the lead agency in the investigation.

The case is not thought to be terrorism related, Martin said. But he wouldn't confirm that it was a domestic incident. He also didn't explain why the suspect was a guest at the base.

Paramedics responded to the scene at around 6:45 p.m. and determined there was nothing they could do for the victim, said Capt. Bill Wade, a fire department spokesman.

Tampa police, FBI and base security are continuing to investigate.

The base is not under lockdown, although the Dale Mabry gate was closed because of the investigation. It reopened about 3 a.m.

Dedicated in 1941, MacDill Air Force Base is located on 5,767 acres of land. It plays an integral role in national security. It is home to Central Command and Special Operations Command. It also is home to the 927th Air Refueling Wing and 51 other mission partners.

Last month, the Dale Mabry Highway entrance to MacDill Air Force Base was closed for several hours after a car damaged the gate when the driver tried to enter the base without authorization.

A Dodge Intrepid approached the gate at about 12:45 a.m. April 19. Security personnel believed the driver was impaired and asked him to turn off the ignition. Instead, he reversed, striking a car behind the Dodge, and then continued through the gate.

Security barriers stopped the Dodge, and the four occupants were detained.