Update: John Howry will be promoted posthumously. Howry was scheduled for promotion to airman first class later this month.

One Malmstrom Airman is dead and another is in custody after a party Monday night. Malmstrom Air Force Base Senior Airman Jonathon Higgens with the 341st Security Forces Squadron is now in jail. Just weeks ago he was awarded the Purple Heart. This afternoon (Tuesday, May 6th) he was charged with negligent homicide. According to witnesses Higgens and the victim identified as 22-year-old John Howry were joking around at a drinking party. The party was at a house right behind the football stadium at Great Falls High. Higgens was playing around with a gun when it went off. The bullet pierced Howry's abdomen, which was a fatal wound. Higgens admitted to the accidental shooting to police. The John Howry's position at the base is unknown at this time. Higgnen's bail is set at $25,000.