IRS agent found not guilty in 2023 shooting death of fellow agent during training exercise

PHOENIX (KTVK/KPHO/Gray News) — A jury found a federal agent not guilty on Wednesday in the 2023 shooting death of a fellow agent after a training exercise in Phoenix.

IRS Special Agent Larry Edward Brown, Jr. was charged with involuntary manslaughter of an officer in the death of Special Agent Patrick Bauer.

The trial had started about a week and a half ago in federal court.

It took about 90 minutes of deliberations for the jury to decide on the single charge.

After the verdict was read, Brown bowed his head and was in tears. He then hugged his wife.

Brown offered his “sincerest condolences to the Bauer family” in a statement issued through his attorneys.

“Pat was a great man,” Brown said. “He was a mentor and like a brother to me. I miss him every day.”

Bauer’s family members, also in the courtroom, were also emotional and in tears, and shouted at Brown that “he killed their loved one and got away with it.” Outside the courtroom, several of them sobbed and one woman threw her purse at the wall.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Arizona, which prosecuted the case, said in a statement, “We remain supportive of Agent Bauer’s family in this difficult time, proud of our team for seeking justice, and respectful of the jury’s verdict.”

Brown’s attorney, Jason Lamm, said outside the courthouse there are no winners in this case and that it was a tragic accident.

On Aug. 17, 2023, Brown shot Bauer at a gun range at the Federal Correctional Institution in Phoenix, after Bauer had just finished overseeing standard live-fire pistol qualification exercises.

Sixteen IRS criminal investigators, who examine violations of tax, money laundering and other federal laws, had taken part in the pistol qualification and classroom exercises at the complex.

Brown and Bauer were in a small building known as the “tower” after training had ended for the day.

Prosecutors said Brown recklessly handled his gun and shot Bauer in the mid-section.

Bauer died in the hospital, and according to court records, his last words were, “Larry’s an effing idiot.”

After the shooting, Brown was taken to a different medical center, where he was diagnosed with an acute stress reaction.

While at the hospital, court records say Brown repeated, “I’m a use of force instructor, I should know better” multiple times.

Prosecutors alleged the shooting was negligence, but the defense called it a tragic accident.

The defense argued Bauer would likely still be alive if first responders got there faster and if there was an emergency action plan at the gun range.

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