Crime & Safety
Metro ATL Airman Found Dead Near TX Air Force Base: Reports
The 24-year-old second lieutenant had been reportedly hit by a train near the Air Force base in Del Rio, Texas.
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, TX — An active-duty airman found dead last week near Laughlin Air Force Base in Texas was identified as an Atlanta resident, media reports say.
The airman was identified in reports as Second Lt. James Chitika, 24, of Atlanta. He had been stationed at Laughlin, Channel 2 Action News reported.
Laughlin is located in Del Rio, Texas.
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Chitika had been walking on the tracks and was hit by a train, 11Alive reported.
Air Force officials said Val Verde County authorities alerted the base that a body had been found around 9 a.m. Tuesday near a railway off-base.
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“We tragically lost a member of our Air Force and Laughlin family,” Col. Kevin A. Davidson, 47th Flying Training Wing commander, said in a news release. “Our hearts and prayers are with the family and all those that knew him. Our top priority is to support the grieving family, friends and loved ones struggling with this loss.”
The Val Verde County Sheriff's Office is investigating the death.
Patch is working to learn more information.
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