The deceased agent has been identified as 47-year-old Patrick Bauer. Agent Bauer was participating in a training exercise at the Federal Correctional Institution in north Phoenix, near Pioneer Road and Interstate 17. The training was described as "routine," according to the FBI.
Exact circumstances surrounding the tragic accident have still not been released at the time of this writing.
In a Thursday night statement, the FBI Phoenix office said, "While the firing range is on Bureau of Prisons grounds, an interagency agreement allows for other law enforcement agencies to use the facility for training purposes. Today, the IRS was at the range for routine training.
To preserve the integrity, details and capabilities of the investigation, details of the ongoing process will not be released. Findings of the FBI investigation will be turned over to the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Arizona for review."
The office also confirmed that Bauer was taken to HonorHealth Deer Valley Medical Center after being shot, where he unfortunately succumbed to his injuries.
On Friday afternoon, IRS Criminal Investigation discussed the death on X, formerly known as Twitter, saying:
"It is with great sadness we announce the End of Watch for Special Agent Pat Bauer. We honor his service to the nation, both as a federal law enforcement officer and as a retired master sergeant in the Arizona National Guard."
Bauer was a retired master sergeant with the Arizona Air National Guard. He previously served with the 161st Air Refueling Wing Security Forces Squadron, according to AZ Family who spoke with the National Guard. He served over 20 years and saw several overseas deployments and state missions.
"The special agents involved in Thursday’s shooting, said AZ Family, "were part of the IRS’s Criminal Investigations unit with the Phoenix Field Office. Special agents with IRS-Criminal Investigations are the law enforcement branch of the IRS and are fully-sworn law enforcement officers who investigate violations of the Internal Revenue Code, including potential tax crimes, money laundering and some bank secrecy act violations."
"Our hearts go out to MSgt Bauer’s family, friends and all those who had the privilege to work with him.," said the AZ National Guard Adjutant General, Major General Kerry Muehlenbeck. "His service to the state and nation will forever be remembered."
Agent Bauer is survived by his wife as well as four kids.
Anthony Dominicis, a former IRS Special Agent, spoke with Fox 10 regarding the IRS use of firearms. "We’re not going after someone misreporting a home office, or a mom-and-pop misreporting income," he said. "We’re going after the larger players, the wealthier players, that should be paying their fair share of taxes, and don’t.
"We have a very sound training program. This hasn’t happened before. It’s just sad."
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