On May 18, 2019, worry began to spread among the community at Shaw Air Force Base after Senior Airman Jose Llanes failed to contact his family or report for duty. The 28-year-old male, who served as an aircraft parts store journeyman with the 20th Logistics Readiness Squadron, had been stationed at the South Carolina base since March 2013. His sudden absence prompted an immediate search effort by local law enforcement and military officials, who scoured the surrounding areas for any sign of the
missing airman or his vehicle.
Three days later, on the morning of May 21, 2019, the search came to a tragic conclusion in a wooded area of Alcolu, South Carolina. Authorities discovered Llanes deceased inside his vehicle, which was parked off Relief Road, approximately twenty miles southeast of the base near the intersection of Highway 379 and Interstate 95. The discovery marked a somber moment for his squadron and the broader military community, who had held out hope for his safe return during the agonizing days since he was last seen.
Following an investigation by the Sumter County Sheriff's Office and the Sumter County Coroner’s Office, officials determined that there was no foul play involved in the death. An autopsy confirmed that Llanes died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Because the case was ruled a suicide rather than a criminal homicide, law enforcement did not pursue any suspects, and no arrests were made in connection with the incident.
