A Wichita sailor’s death during a training exercise in April is now ruled a negligent homicide; the U.S. Navy said a fellow sailor is charged.
Master-at-Arms Third Class Lyndon Joel Cosgriff-Flax’s death is now deemed a negligent homicide, more than seven months after he died in the waters in Virginia.
The charges against the suspect also include a pair of counts for dereliction of duty, and making a false official statement.
Cosgriff-Flax was 22 years old when he died on April 28.
The Navy said Cosgriff-Flax “was conducting familiarization training on the York River with his harbor security boat team when he fell overboard at about 8:05 p.m.” Cosgriff-Flax suffered fatal injuries; he'd been stationed at NWS Yorktown for two years.
There is no set court date; the name of the sailor being charged is withheld until the charges are referred, and the case gets the 'green light' to be tried.