In These New Times

KTVA

Every cloud has a silver lining. You find your neighbour and colleague dead, with a self inflicted shot gun wound to the chest (best to make sure when you are trying this suicide carry on);and, on the plus side you get to take his job as a general at Elmendorf Air Force Base.

As for the deceased, he has had difficult time of it. Tinsley’s previous boss, Michael “Buzz” Mosely, had already resigned in the wake of the Minot Nukes incident.

Minot Air Force base has to deal with four unfortunate deaths of its own. So a bad year all round.

Suspected cause of death is self-inflicted gunshot wound in the chest

A top general at Elmendorf Air Force Base is dead.Officials say Brigadier General Thomas Tinsley was discovered with a fatal gunshot wound to his chest shortly after 10 Sunday night inside his home on Elmendorf.

At this point the investigation is still ongoing, but officials tell CBS 11 News they suspect the wound was self-inflicted and a handgun was the most likely weapon used.

Tinsley’s wife and daughter were home at the time of the shooting.

Colonel Richard Walberg lives across the street from the general.

“I got a call from command post the individual on the other line was fairly agitated and said there is a report of gunshots at Gen. Tinsley’s house. And people are screaming at that point. I came flying

Colonel Richard Walberg

out of my house, my wife was right behind me. I ran across the street. The fire department wasn’t there yet, but they were coming,” said Col. Walberg.Walberg will now be assuming the responsibility of the Third Wing, a position Tinsley had held for a little more than a year.

Walberg told reporters Monday, the official cause of death and the details of a memorial service will be announced as more information becomes available.