A military hero who was praised by Donald Trump and awarded for his bravery after saving children during the El Paso Walmart mass shooting...
A military hero who was praised by Donald Trump and awarded for his bravery after saving children during the El Paso Walmart mass shooting has been found dead at Fort Bliss.
Army Private First Class Glendon Oakley Jr., 23, was found dead in his quarters on Wednesday, a spokesman for Fort Bliss has confirmed.
Oakley was 'found deceased in his on-post quarters,' said Gilbert Telles Jr. 'No further information will be released at this time.'
His death is currently under investigation but no foul play is suspected.
Army Private First Class Glendon Oakley Jr., 23, (pictured) was found dead in his quarters on Wednesday, a spokesman for Fort Bliss has confirmed
Oakley rocketed to hero status overnight after he said he dragged young children to safety during the 2019 massacre at a Walmart store near the Cielo Vista Mall in El Paso, Texas.
Twenty-two people were killed and another 24 were injured in the deadly shooting on August 3, 2019, when suspected gunman Patrick Crusius walked into the store and opened fire on crowds of shoppers.
As the tragedy unfolded, Oakley said he was inside a Foot Locker store in the mall when a child ran into the store saying there was a shooting.
He told reporters at the time that he drew his weapon and ran outside, pulling several children in the mall's open play areas to safety.
'I didn't even think. I just grabbed as many kids as I could and ran five stores down to the exit,' Oakley told Task & Purpose at the time.
Oakley (pictured with Trump on August 7 2019) was praised by Donald Trump and awarded an ARCOM for saving children during the El Paso Walmart mass shooting
President Trump, who traveled with Melania Trump (pictured) to meet the first responders in the aftermath of the shooting, said at the time: 'What a job he did. You'll be a movie star, the way you look'
'We got there and ran into a whole batch of police pointing their guns at us. I wasn't focused on myself, and I wasn't focused on my surroundings... I was just focused on those kids.'
Oakley was hailed as a hero for his actions by the public, the army and even President Trump who traveled to meet the first responders in the aftermath of the shooting, which has been described as the deadliest attack on Latinos in modern American history.
'What a job he did,' Trump said at the time. 'You'll be a movie star, the way you look.'
Oakley was awarded the Army Commendation Medal in an award ceremony at Fort Bliss for his bravery in the massacre.
But he seemed to shy away from the attention after receiving the commendation.
The Texan soldier said after the medal ceremony that he didn't 'want the attention' but wanted to 'go back to my normal life,' according to Task & Purpose.
The crime scene following the shooting. Oakley rocketed to hero status overnight after he said he dragged young children to safety during the 2019 massacre at a Walmart store near the Cielo Vista Mall in El Paso, Texas
22 people were killed and another 24 were injured in the deadly shooting on August 3, 2019, when suspected gunman Patrick Crusius (above) walked into the store and opened fire
Walmart employees pay tribute on August 6 after the deadly attack, described as the deadliest attack on Latinos in modern American history
The El Paso Police Department later cast doubts on Oakley's version of events saying they had 'no independent confirmation' of his story.
'All we can say is that there were reports of possible multiple shooters and a possible shooter at the mall. That was based on initial erroneous reports amidst the chaos,' police said in a statement in September.
'It was later confirmed that there was only one shooter and there was no one in danger at the mall. We have no independent reports of anyone's actions at the mall.'
Then in October, Oakley was reportedly arrested for desertion after going absent without leave.
Oakley was awarded the Army Commendation Medal in an award ceremony at Fort Bliss on August 14 (pictured) for his bravery in the massacre
It is not clear if he was facing disciplinary action from the army following the arrest.
Oakley joined the army in 2017, becoming an automated logistics specialist assigned to the 1st Armored Division Sustainment Brigade’s 504th Composite Supply Company, 142nd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion.
In 2018 he was deployed to Kuwait and had returned to Texas just a few months before the El Paso terrorist attack.
As well as the ARCOM, Oakley received several other awards during his tenure including the Army Achievement Medal and the Rifle Marksmanship Badge.
As well as the ARCOM, Oakley received several other awards during his tenure including the Army Achievement Medal and the Rifle Marksmanship Badge
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