IRS Agent Tragically Killed Colleague in an Incident at a Gun Range

• An IRS special agent tragically lost his life when a fellow agent accidentally shot him during a training exercise.
• The victim, Patrick Bauer, had served 20 years with the Arizona Air National Guard before joining the IRS.
• At 47 years old, Bauer leaves behind a devastated wife and four children.

A dedicated IRS special agent, Patrick Bauer, with extensive military experience, tragically lost his life in a heartbreaking incident at a federal gun range. The 47-year-old Bauer was accidentally shot by a fellow IRS agent during a training session in Phoenix, Arizona, according to officials confirmed by AZ Family.

Bauer was taken to a local hospital but succumbed to his injuries. The IRS Criminal Investigation spokesperson, Charlotte M. Dennis, expressed concern for Bauer’s family during an interview with AZ Family.

In addition to his work as an IRS agent, Bauer had retired as a master sergeant from the Arizona Air National Guard’s 161st Air Refueling Wing Security Forces Squadron. The squadron honored Bauer on Facebook and expressed deep condolences to his loved ones for the loss of an esteemed member who served for more than 20 years.

Patrick Bauer leaves behind his wife and four children. Maj. Gen. Kerry L. Muehlenbeck, an Arizona National Guard Adjutant General, also conveyed condolences and recognized Bauer’s service to the state and nation in a statement to AZ Family.

The FBI is currently investigating Bauer’s tragic death, and the findings will be turned over to the US Attorney’s Office, as reported by ABC 15.

Lt. Col. Jeffrey Robertson, who had known Bauer for nearly a decade, described him as an incredible human and a great leader. The shocking incident follows months of questioning regarding the need for IRS agents to be armed.

The IRS’s Criminal Investigation Division has a long history of conducting potentially dangerous investigative work and was previously responsible for bringing down infamous mob boss Al Capone in the 1930s.