Statement by Secretary of Defense Ash Carter on the Death of Army Reserve Captain Antonio Brown
June 14, 2016

I am deeply saddened by the news that a Soldier in the U.S. Army Reserve was among the victims of the tragic shooting in Orlando over the weekend.

Capt. Antonio Davon Brown served his country for nearly a decade, stepping forward to do the noblest thing a young person can do, which is to protect others. His service both at home and overseas gave his fellow Americans the security to dream their dreams, and live full lives. The attack in Orlando was a cowardly assault on those freedoms, and a reminder of the importance of the mission to which Capt. Brown devoted his life.

The men and women of the Department of Defense grieve with Capt. Brown’s family and with all of the families and loved ones impacted by this tragedy. We stand with the people of Orlando and the nation’s LGBT community during this difficult time, and stand in determination to defeat ISIL and prevent the spread of its hateful ideology.