VICTIM  OF  UNPROVOKED  ATTACK

In downtown San Diego on the evening of June 10, 2017, a man forcefully took a purse from a woman and as he walked away he encountered two men walking in his direction.  Suddenly and without provocation he shot both men.  The two men were LCDR James Celani and his young cousin who were approaching a nearby comedy club. Unfortunately, LCDR Celani was shot in his chest and died at a hospital.  His cousin suffered a minor gunshot wound to one of his legs.  LCDR Celani graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 1997 and then joined the Navy where he became a Naval Aviator.  After tours as a pilot he worked with drone technology and at the time of his death he was assigned to Naval Special Warfare Command in Coronado, California, where his commander said, “He helped develop the curriculum and tactics we use on the battlefield, a very integral part of Naval Special Warfare.”

Two days after LCDR Celani was shot, the man responsible for his death was arrested and awaits trial at the time of this writing.

Submitted by CDR Roy A. Mosteller, USNR (Ret)