Iowa Guard sergeant killed fellow soldier and civilian in ‘targeted’ shooting, sheriff says

An Iowa Nationwide Guard soldier and a civilian lady had been each killed by one other Guardsman throughout a June 2 capturing at Cornerstone Church in Ames, Iowa.

Spc. Eden Mariah Montang, 22, and Vivian Renee Flores, 21, had been killed when Sgt. Johnathan Lee Whitlatch, 33, approached the ladies and opened fireplace, in line with a press convention from the Story County Sheriff’s Workplace. A 3rd lady managed to search out cowl and was unhurt.

“Inside a matter of seconds, Eden Montang and Vivian Flores had been fatally injured from the gunfire,” Story County Sheriff Paul Fitzgerald stated.

Whitlatch then turned the gun on himself, dying of a self-inflicted 9mm gunshot wound to the pinnacle. Greater than 80 different Iowa State School college students had been current on the church on the time of the capturing.

The incident was a “focused act of violence” towards Montang after she ended a romantic relationship with Whitlatch within the days main as much as the capturing, Fitzgerald stated.

Whitlatch had been arrested on Could 31 for third-degree harassment and impersonating a public official in Boone County in “fees instantly associated” to his relationship with Montang, Fitzgerald added. He was launched after posting bail and was scheduled to face trial June 10.

In a put up made to her Instagram account on Could 26, Montang additionally mentioned abusive relationships and the way they’ll occur to anybody.

The Iowa Guard stated there was an ongoing investigation into Whitlatch’s relationship with Montang as a result of Military laws strictly govern relationships between troopers of various ranks, in line with Iowa Guard spokesperson Sgt. First Class Christie Smith.

“Right now, I’m not conscious of a navy criticism filed by SPC Montang concerning her relationship with SGT Whitlatch, however command was conscious” of their relationship and commenced an investigation, Smith instructed Military Occasions. “Outcomes of that investigation are being withheld pending the conclusion of the continued regulation enforcement investigation.”

A press launch from the Iowa Guard stated Whitlatch enlisted in 2015 and was serving as a human assets specialist with Detachment 1, Headquarters Help Firm, 248th Aviation Help Battalion. He beforehand served as an infantryman with the 168th Infantry in Iowa.

Montang was a mortuary affairs specialist additionally assigned to the 248th Aviation Help Battalion. She joined the Iowa Military Nationwide Guard in 2019.

In a separate incident involving an unidentified sufferer in November 2021 — throughout which period Whitlatch was already romantically concerned with Montang, in line with her Fb — he was charged with assault with intent to commit sexual abuse in Cedar Falls, however the fees have since been dismissed.

Search warrants had been carried out on Whitlatch’s residence and pick-up truck, the latter from which regulation enforcement officers recovered gun ammo and a receipt from the acquisition of his 9mm pistol. No extra particulars have been launched right now.

On the time of her dying, Montang had been learning American Signal Language at Iowa State College the place she was a senior, in line with her Fb web page. She additionally beforehand graduated from the Therapeutic massage Remedy Coaching Institute as a licensed therapeutic massage therapist in 2019, the place she had been “studying tips on how to present therapeutic well being care by way of caring arms.”

Montang’s father, Terry Montang who’s a retired Military grasp sergeant with 32 years of service himself, stated at a June 3 prayer service: “What I need everybody to know is that she walked the stroll. She died for her religion. I’m proud to have been her father. I’m undecided what extra there may be to say than she is with the Lord.”

Montang’s household additionally launched a press release by way of Cornerstone Church, sharing how beloved she was.

“She was unrelenting in her values and powerful conscience. She was intellectually gifted, articulate and assured. In much less (than) 20 minutes, she may do farm chores and write a poem all whereas consuming a glass of wine,” the assertion learn.

“She deeply cherished her household and her beloved canine, Takoda. Eden was a good looking backyard that we had been fortunate sufficient to observe develop,” the assertion added.

Montang is survived by her dad and mom Mia and Terry Montang, in addition to her brother Ethan and sister Elyse.

“We’re devastated by this tragic information,” Maj. Gen. Ben Corell, adjutant normal of the Iowa Nationwide Guard wrote of the capturing.

“Our hearts are with all who’re impacted, together with the victims’ households, Ames, Iowa State and Cornerstone Church communities, associates, and fellow service members,” Corell added. “Whereas working to help these affected, we are going to proceed to cooperate with regulation enforcement because the investigation continues.”

The households of each troopers might be receiving casualty help, the press launch added.

Flores, the second sufferer, was not an Iowa Nationwide Guardsman however a fellow Iowa State College pupil. She was learning animal science with the hope of changing into a veterinarian.

Police don’t consider Flores had any form of relationship with Whitlatch. As an alternative, she was merely a fellow Cornerstone Church-goer and buddy of Montang’s who was tragically caught within the crossfire, police stated.

The Ames capturing was simply one among many latest public shootings carried out throughout the nation up to now few weeks. One other capturing occurred in Racine, Wisconsin — additionally on June 2 — the place two girls had been killed whereas attending a funeral when greater than 20-30 photographs had been fired on the gravesite.

The Iowa capturing moreover marks one more occasion of gun violence affecting navy members. Nineteen fourth-graders and two academics had been additionally killed in a mass capturing in Uvalde, Texas, on Could 24. One of many academics killed after utilizing her physique to defend college students, Irma Garcia, was the mom of a Marine.