In the winter of 2018, a gathering of friends in Colorado Springs turned tragic, resulting in the death of 25-year-old Cesar H. Diaz. A Hispanic male, Diaz was a Sergeant in the United States Army stationed at Fort Carson. On the evening of December 1st, he was socializing with a group of fellow soldiers at a home in the 3600 block of Saguaro Circle. Earlier in the day, the group had been out for shooting practice. Back at the residence, they were cleaning their weapons and drinking.
The atmosphere of camaraderie took a fatal turn when one of the soldiers, 21-year-old Private First Class Isaac Klippert, picked up a Glock handgun that was on a table. Believing the firearm to be unloaded, Klippert allegedly racked the slide, pointed it at Diaz, and pulled the trigger in what witnesses described as a joke. A single shot was fired, striking and killing Diaz at the scene. There were no arguments or altercations preceding the incident, which was described by a witness as a case of being 'young, dumb, and in the military'.
Following the shooting, the other men in the house called the police. The El Paso County Sheriff's Office responded, and their investigation led to the arrest of Isaac Klippert. He admitted to pulling the trigger but maintained that he did not intend to shoot his friend and was under the impression the gun was empty. He also informed investigators he had consumed about three pints of beer. Klippert was the sole suspect identified and was charged with manslaughter in connection with Diaz's death.
