Source: deployed civilian mariner died of self-inflicted gunshot wound

A civilian mariner deployed aboard a Navy cargo ship fatally shot himself on the ship last week, a Navy source with knowledge of the incident has confirmed.

Third Officer Jonathon J. Morris, 34, of San Mateo, California, died aboard the dry cargo ship Amelia Earhart on July 22, according U.S. Military Sealift Command spokesman Tom Van Leunen.

The Navy source, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to release the cause of Morris’ death, provided no further information regarding what happened.

Van Leunen declined to offer further details “as it remains under investigation,” he said in an email to Navy Times. .

The ship was deployed in the Middle Eastern waters of U.S. 5th Fleet at the time of Morris’ death.

RELATED

Civilian mariner dies on deployed cargo ship

Authorities said the death this week was non-combat related.

By Geoff Ziezulewicz

Morris’ family could not be reached for comment.

Amelia Earhart delivers ammunition, food, repair parts, stores and small quantities of fuel to naval ships at sea.

If you are having a mental health crisis, contact the Military Crisis Line at 800-273-8255, then press 1, or access online chat by texting 838255.

More In Your Navy

US Navy denies Russian claim it pushed destroyer Chafee from its territorial waters

The alleged incident came as Russia and China conducted joint naval drills in the area, and follows other close encounters involving Russian and Western warships.

US Navy, Japanese helicopter squadrons conduct anti-submarine warfare exercise

While experts have noted that China’s undersea capabilities are not as advanced as Russia’s, China still boasts a large fleet.

Sailor convicted in connection to shipmate’s death on New Year’s Day 2020

Hospitalman Apprentice Ethan J. Helems was convicted by a military jury in June of involuntary manslaughter, negligent homicide and other charges in connection to the death of Hospitalman Thomas Adrian Dion Campbell, according to recently released Navy trial records.

Colin Firth to star as MI5 agent in WWII movie ‘Operation Mincemeat’

The movie will premiere in the U.K. in January 2022.

Navy will reevaluate discharge upgrade applications for sailors, Marines with PTSD, TBI, other conditions

Decisions from the Naval Discharge Review Board since March 2, 2012, will automatically be reviewed if the applicant didn’t receive an upgrade to honorable discharge. Sailors and Marines who were separated before that time can reapply.

In Other News

First lady says more money needed to fight hunger in military families

The House version of the defense policy bill would create a “basic needs allowance” to supplement troops with a household income of less than 130 percent of the federal poverty line.

Air Force scrubbed hijacking claim from news release after CENTCOM disputed story

After a CNN article reported that CENTCOM disputed an Air Force press release that claimed there had been an attempted hijacking during the HKIA evacuations, the press release was scrubbed of any mention of the incident.

‘Accountability’ Marine gets light sentence; judge blasts command

The judge said the videos showed a man who appeared “to be in pain,” “confused” and “significantly frustrated,” rather than a rogue and potentially-violent Marine.

Navy kicks off second phase of multinational training in Bay of Bengal

Phase II of training exercise MALABAR kicked off Oct. 11 2021 with participating forces from the Indian Navy, Royal Australian Navy, Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force hosted by the U.S. Navy in the Bay of Bengal in order to strengthen quad-national interoperability.

China, Russia launch joint naval drills in Russian Far East

China and Russia are united in opposing the dominant U.S. influence in global affairs.

Load More