The Kansas Bureau of Investigation has identified the Fort Riley man killed in a confrontation with police shortly after 1 a.m. Tuesday in Junction City, according to a news release from the bureau.
The KBI identified 23-year-old Peter James Robbins as the man who was shot and killed by officers after refusing their commands to drop two handguns he possessed outside the Walmart Neighborhood Market.
On Wednesday afternoon, a press release from Fort Riley addressed the shooting and identified Robbins as a decorated field artillery Firefinder radar operator with the 5th Field Artillery Regiment of the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team.
“The 1st Bn., 5th FA Regt., team is deeply saddened by the loss of Spc. Robbins,” said Lt. Col. Richard J. Ikena Jr., commander of the 1st Bn., 5th FA Regt. “Our team is prepared to fully support Spc. Robbins’ family, teammates and friends through these challenging times.”
The KBI says Junction City officers were responding to a requested welfare check at a home when another caller reported an armed disturbance blocks away outside a store. Local police and Geary County deputies responded to that later call and found Robbins armed with two handguns on the sidewalk before “the confrontation escalated further,” and four law enforcers fired at Robbins.
No officers were injured.
Robbins joined the Army in February 2013 and arrived at Fort Riley in August 2013. He deployed to Iraq in June 2014 and to South Korea in October 2016.
His home of record is Albuquerque, New Mexico. His awards include the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon.
