A decorated White/Caucasian male United States Army Reserve Master Sergeant, Bert Jay Garvin, was 45 years old when his life was cut short on March 6, 2014, in Yakima, Washington. An accomplished soldier with a career spanning over two decades, he was stationed at the Yakima Training Center, a military facility known for preparing soldiers for deployment.
On that Thursday, Garvin was participating in a training exercise when the fatal incident occurred.
During the course of the exercise, another soldier, Daniel C. Gaulke, discharged his weapon, striking Garvin. The shooting led to an immediate investigation by the Army Criminal Investigation Command. While the circumstances of the shooting were not immediately released, it was confirmed that both Garvin and Gaulke were soldiers who knew each other. The incident was a shock to the military community at the training center.
Following the initial military investigation, the case was handed over to a civilian prosecutor to determine if criminal charges would be filed against Daniel C. Gaulke. The review of the evidence and the findings of the Army's investigation would ultimately decide whether the shooting was a tragic accident or an act of criminal homicide. The outcome of that legal review would determine the final chapter in the story of Bert Jay Garvin's untimely death.
