An 18-year-old private serving with the 10th Mountain Division died Thursday from a gunshot wound at an on-post residence at Fort Polk, Louisiana.
Pvt. Jacob Malcolm was a native of Hedgesville, West Virginia, according to a 10th Mountain Division release.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Private Malcolm," said Col. Jose Rivera, rear provisional commander of 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division. "It is never easy losing a soldier, and he will be missed."
Malcolm enlisted in February 2017 and, following training, was assigned to the division, whose headquarters is in Fort Drum, New York.
He served as an infantry rifleman with 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team.
The release said Malcolm died from “a gunshot wound at a residence on base” at Fort Polk and was pronounced dead by the deputy coroner of Vernon Parish, Louisiana, at 7:04 p.m. Thursday.
Further details have not yet been released, pending an investigation into the incident.
His death and its circumstances are being investigated by the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command.
Malcolm’s awards and decorations included the National Defense Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon.
Todd South has written about crime, courts, government and the military for multiple publications since 2004 and was named a 2014 Pulitzer finalist for a co-written project on witness intimidation. Todd is a Marine veteran of the Iraq War.