A special court-martial in Camp Pendleton concluded yesterday for one of the service members charged in a shooting on board the Combat Center that killed a Navy corpsman nearly 2 years ago. HM3 Michael DeLeon, 30, was shot and killed during a house party on the base on August 16, 2019. Z107.7 News had learned that DeLeon was partying and drinking with at least four other corpsmen, and during the party, a gun was brought out and fired, killing DeLeon. DeLeon’s family said they were initially told it was suicide; months later they learned DeLeon had been shot by another corpsman. The special court-martial was for HM1 Ryan Dini, who was present at the party. The members of the court-martial found Dini guilty of three counts of dereliction of duty, one count for failing to prevent junior Sailors from handling firearms resulting in death, one count for failing to enforce the weapons safety rules, and the final count for handing a firearm to a junior Sailor who was under the influence of alcohol. HM1 Ryan Dini was sentenced to 100 days of confinement and a reduction in rank to E-5.
The family of the victim was not pleased with the outcome of the court-martial and believed Dini deserved a harsher punishment for his involvement in the death of DeLeon. In a statement to Z107.7 News, Michael DeLeon’s parents said, “The family is very disappointed at the outcome of Ryan Dini’s triumph here in San Diego Camp Pendleton… What happened to our son was not only a tragedy for our family but a travesty in the military justice system.”
“The family is very disappointed at the outcome of Ryan Dini’s triumph here in San Diego Camp Pendleton. He was found guilty of dereliction of duty causing death, a charge that carries a maximum sentencing of 10 years. The judge in this case gave Ryan 100 days in the brig with a reduction in rank from an E6 to E5. What happened to our son was not only a tragedy for our family but a travesty in the military justice system. What does this say to other enlisted personnel along with the upper tier leadership at this space? What does it say to us? It says that you can commit a crime, you can allow your junior sailors to act in a dangerous manner, even causing death of another yet of another, yet we’re only going to give you 100 days and reduce you one rank. That’s what it says, this whole case from the beginning has bothered us. Today I realize that this has been nothing but a kangaroo court the outcome was already predetermined.” – Statement from the parents of HM3 Michael DeLeon
