Affidavit: Joke gone awry led to man’s death in Colorado Springs
A 25-year-old man is dead because of a joke gone horribly wrong Sunday night in Colorado Springs, and a witness said it was a case of being “young, dumb, and in the military.”
Caesar Diaz was found dead from a gunshot wound in a house in the 3600 block of Saguaro Circle and Colorado Springs police were able to talk to the accused shooter, who is a Fort Carson soldier.
Pfc. Isaac Klippert, 21, and several others had been shooting at a range in the mountains earlier that day and cleaned the firearms in the house that evening. The guns were left “lying around the house,” according to the affidavit.
Klippert, Diaz, and a few others began drinking and playing cards, but Klippert found a Glock handgun on a card table nearby. A witness told police that “for no reason other than [the men] being young, dumb and in the military, they often play jokes on each other.”
Klippert picked up the handgun, racked the slide, pointed it at Diaz, and pulled the trigger expecting the gun to just click.
Diaz was shot point blank. That’s when the other men called police to the house.
The witness, who owned the Glock handgun, told police there wasn’t an argument or disagreement between anyone in the house.
Klippert admitted to pulling the trigger but said he didn’t mean to shoot Diaz. He also told police he had consumed about three pints of beer.
Klippert was arrested on charges of manslaughter, first-degree assault, and prohibited use of weapons.
We’ve reached out to Fort Carson for information on Klippert’s status, as well as information on Diaz’s service history.
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The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office has arrested a Fort Carson soldier connected to what’s being investigated as an accidental shooting of another person.
Saturday night, deputies responded to a shooting in the 3600 Block of Saguaro Circle, which is near Marksheffel Road and Drennan Road
When they arrived, deputies found a victim shot dead.
Private First Class Isaac James Klippert has been arrested for manslaughter, first degree assault, and prohibited use of a weapon. Kilppert is 21-years-old and is currently assigned to the 3rd Armor Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.
The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office says alcohol appears to be a factor in the shooting.
