Army Rangers Suspended After Beach Incident
Nearly 20 Army Rangers have been suspended following the release of videos showing them firing blank rounds at a busy Florida beach during a pirate festival. Eighteen soldiers from the 6th Ranger Training Battalion at Camp Rudder are currently under investigation for allegedly using their weapons without proper authorization. This incident occurred at the Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival on Crab Island in Destin.
In videos shared online, groups of soldiers in small boats were seen amidst beachgoers, discharging rounds into the air along Fort Walton Beach. One witness could be heard questioning, “Is that real?” as the situation unfolded.
Festival attendees reported that the sound of gunfire made several people duck for cover. One local charter boat captain, Michael Ingram, expressed his concerns, stating, “This is unacceptable because there are so many real mass shootings going on in America each year. You can’t be joking about it.”
Another local, Cameron “Captain Wam” Ellsworth, described his surprise upon hearing the shots. Initially, he thought it might be a blown tire, but upon seeing military boats discharging blank shots, he realized the reality of the situation. He remarked on the potential dangers, especially with children present, stating, “So when you look at it like that, it wasn’t so cool.”
The blank rounds were initially authorized for a staged maritime engagement where soldiers were to simulate capturing a legendary pirate figure. However, city officials clarified that the additional shots fired were not sanctioned. A post from the city emphasized that the activities conducted by the Rangers were not part of the officially approved festival agenda.
The extra gunfire alarmed local residents, leading to a flurry of calls to the police. In light of the incident, the Rangers, based at Eglin Air Force Base, have been temporarily barred from training recruits in the final phase of the Army’s Ranger course pending the investigation’s outcome.
The Army has acknowledged the situation and stated it is conducting a thorough investigation, emphasizing the importance of accountability as it unfolds.
