RadioOnFire.com - Hundreds of rounds of ammunition distributed to Maryland Army National Guard members during the April 2015 unrest in Baltimore are missing, the 11 News I-Team has learned.
Guard officials confirmed that internal investigations have taken place, and the incident has prompted changes in procedure. Guard officials said the ammunition is marked, so it would leave a trail if it's used. The missing ammunition is mostly what is used in the Guard's M-4 rifles, similar to the AR-15 rifle.
The call-up of the National Guard in April 2015 put nearly 4,000 soldiers in Baltimore as a result of a state of emergency declared when civil unrest followed the death of Freddie Gray.
Each soldier was armed, and each was given an amount of ammunition.
Nearly three years later, Guard officials confirmed that some of the ammunition is missing.
"We were missing more than 1,500 rounds of ammunition," Maryland National Guard spokesman Col. Charles Kohler said.
Guard officials confirmed that internal investigations have taken place, and the incident has prompted changes in procedure. Guard officials said the ammunition is marked, so it would leave a trail if it's used. The missing ammunition is mostly what is used in the Guard's M-4 rifles, similar to the AR-15 rifle.
The call-up of the National Guard in April 2015 put nearly 4,000 soldiers in Baltimore as a result of a state of emergency declared when civil unrest followed the death of Freddie Gray.
Each soldier was armed, and each was given an amount of ammunition.
Nearly three years later, Guard officials confirmed that some of the ammunition is missing.
"We were missing more than 1,500 rounds of ammunition," Maryland National Guard spokesman Col. Charles Kohler said.
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Kohler said the speed of deployment may be to blame with a breakdown in procedures to account for how much ammunition was given to whom.
Kohler said the Guard has conducted two internal investigations, but the Guard could not answer what happened or who is responsible.
"The chain of custody, it was difficult to determine where it broke down, so no one was held accountable," Kohler said. "We don't know where it is."
Soldiers were told they could use the Guard's amnesty boxes, which are stationed in facilities, to return any of the missing ammunition, but none has turned up.
Kohler said a result of the incident, new, tighter procedures are in place that are part of changes to how National Guard members will be called up to service within the state.
"We are implementing new ways of distribution of ammunition, and we have a process that we go through that has completely changed how we bring soldiers on for active duty," Kohler said.
No guard member fired a gun during the Baltimore 2015 deployment.
Guard officials said there is no evidence the ammunition that is missing has been used in crimes.
Source WBAL
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