The United States Army has identified the soldier who died after an incident at Fort Lee on Monday as 33-year-old Sgt. 1st Class Paula M. Walker.
Walker died at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center after a situation at Fort Lee early Monday morning where she allegedly shot herself.
According to a release from Fort Lee officials, Walker reportedly entered the U.S. Army Combined Arms Support Command Headquarters, Bldg. 5020. on post at approximately 8:45 a.m. and brandished a weapon. She then barricaded herself inside an office.
The installation was placed on lockdown just after 9:00 a.m. and all access gates on post were closed temporarily.
Fort Lee Police responded to the building within two minutes and quickly made contact with Walker. During the course of the negotiation, Walker reportedly turned the gun on herself and fired. No other injuries were reported.
Walker was then taken to VCU Medical Center where she was pronounced dead at 10:16 a.m.
An “all clear” was issued by the Fort Lee installation operations center at 9:50 a.m.
The U.S. Army reports that Walker’s hometown of record is Yonkers, New York.
She served on active duty for nearly 14 years after enlisting in September 2000. Prior to Fort Lee, Walker served at Fort Devens, Mass., starting in 2010 and Fort Eustis starting in 2006, among other installations.
Her career included a 15-month combat tour in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2007-2008. Her awards and decorations included three Army Commendation Medals, four Army Achievement Medals, one Joint Meritorious Unit Award and four Army Good Conduct Medals.
The U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command continues to investigate the incident. Fort Lee officials are fully cooperating with the investigation.
