In a more broad sense of “people doing stupid shit with guns,” though… Maybe. So perhaps there is a point to his prosecution after all.

You’re a sharp one aren’t you?

Shit happens, and factors like youth, inexperience, and chemical impairment greatly increase the chances of shit happening.  But compassion is always called for.  If we can’t learn from our mistakes we’ll never survive as a species.  And when one life is destroyed by someone’s gross miscalculation or horrific blunder, we might consider it worthwhile to try and prevent that blunder from utterly destroying even more lives than it has already.

Also, making a guess since the story is light on details, I believe this was the man’s personal firearm, not a military-issued weapon. I’m getting the impression this didn’t happen on base, since it was the city PD that responded, not the MPs.

Can you imagine the sobering moment of horror as you watch your friend’s face explode into red in front of you and the shock setting in of what you’d just done and can never ever undo… All blame aside, what a horrific tragedy.