13-Year-Old Stepson Kills NCO After Watching Him Allegedly Assault His Mother, Police Say

A 1st Armored Division senior enlisted soldier was shot to death by his 13-year-old stepson Monday night after allegedly assaulting the boy's mother, according to El Paso Police.

Sgt. 1st Class Allan Edwards, 31, died at his off-post home near Fort Bliss, Texas, according to a 1st A.D. news release Thursday evening.

Edwards allegedly "assaulted the juvenile's mother" away from his apartment sometime Monday, and the "juvenile witnessed that assault," according to a news release from the El Paso Police.

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"Once back at the residence, the juvenile armed himself with a handgun belonging to Edwards," according to the police. "When the couple again began to argue, the juvenile produced the handgun and shot Edwards."

Police responded to the scene at approximately 12 a.m. Tuesday and found that Edwards already had died, according to the police's release. The 13-year-old male was taken into custody and turned over the Juvenile Probation Department.

Detectives from the El Paso Police Crimes Against Persons and Crimes Against Children divisions are investigating the shooting. No charges have been filed at this time, according to the police department's release.

A native of Telford, Tennessee, Edwards was assigned to 1st A.D.'s Operations Section. He joined the Army in March 2008 as an M1 tank armor crewman. Edwards arrived at Fort Bliss in March 2014 and served as assistant operations NCO in 4th Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment; a master gunner with the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team; and platoon sergeant in 1st Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment, according to the 1st A.D. release.

Fort Bliss was his third duty station, and he had one combat deployment to Afghanistan, the release states.

"Sgt. 1st Class Allan Edwards gave 100% daily to the team and his profession; his technical knowledge enhanced the capability of the division operations section," Col. Bryan Frizzelle, assistant chief of staff for operations at the 1st A.D., said in the release. "Sgt. 1st Class Edwards was a determined senior noncommissioned officer who leaves a legacy of armor crew members that are more confident in their profession."

Edwards' military education included the Unit Armorer course, M1A2 Tank Operations course and the Bradley Crew Evaluator course, the release states. He earned a K8 skill identifier after completing the M1A2 Master Gunner course.

He also completed the Army Basic Leader Course in 2011, Army Advanced Leader Course in 2014 and the Army Senior Leader Course in 2020, according to the release.

Edwards' awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (4), Army Achievement Medal (5), Army Good Conduct Medal (4), National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (3), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (2), NATO Medal, Master Gunner Identification Badge, Marksmanship Qualification Badge Expert-Pistol, and Marksmanship Qualification Badge Expert-Carbine, according to the release.

-- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com.

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