Holloman AFB Shooting: Ashanti Stewart Identified as Civilian Who Shot Active-Duty Service Member Before Taking Own Life

Holloman Air Force Base officials on March 20, 2026, publicly identified the civilian involved in the March 17 shooting incident as Ashanti Stewart, a military veteran previously stationed at Holloman AFB.

The shooting took place around 5:30 p.m. in the parking lot of the on-base Shoppette (convenience store). According to the 49th Wing and subsequent news reporting, Stewart confronted an active-duty service member in what authorities have described as an isolated domestic dispute. She allegedly fired multiple shots, injuring the service member, who was inside a vehicle at the time. The children present in the vehicle were not harmed.

After the shooting, Stewart entered the Shoppette and died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, bringing the incident to an end. The active-duty airman was transported for medical care—including air evacuation—and remains in stable condition. Base officials have repeatedly emphasized that the event was isolated, with no ongoing threat to Holloman AFB personnel, families, or the surrounding community. The brief lockdown was lifted once the scene was secured.

Military releases and follow-up statements clarified several points:

• The two individuals involved were not married but were involved in a domestic relationship. 

• The incident arose from a domestic situation, reportedly involving an attempt to serve documents that was rebuffed.

• Stewart, identified as a civilian and former service member, was the sole individual responsible for the shooting and subsequent suicide.

The Shoppette remained closed in the immediate aftermath as investigators processed the scene. The Air Force continues its investigation, with limited additional information being released at this time to respect privacy, next-of-kin notifications, and the ongoing process.

This tragic event underscores the personal challenges that can intersect with military life, even in a secure installation environment like Holloman, which primarily supports training and operational missions.

Sources cited:

• Holloman AFB Official News Release (March 20, 2026): Identification of Ashanti Stewart as the deceased who took her own life after firing at the active-duty service member.

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