Sailor charged with murder, reckless endangerment in death of fellow sailor on future USS John F. Kennedy
Published in News & Features
NORFOLK, Va. — A sailor faces charges in the June killing of a shipmate on the future USS John F. Kennedy.
Aviation Boatswain’s Mate Jayjrion Rodriguez is charged with murder while engaging in an act inherently dangerous to another, involuntary manslaughter, simple assault with a loaded firearm and reckless endangerment.
On June 6, Boatswain’s Mate Seaman Jesse Braswell was killed by a gunshot wound to the head. Though the victim’s name was redacted from Rodriguez’s charge sheet, according to USNI News, both sailors were part of the ship’s in-port security force at the time.
Rodriguez is charged with murder and unlawfully pointing his loaded service pistol at the victim’s head. Rodriguez was taken into pretrial custody the day of the shooting and was released five days later, according to his charge sheet.
More information about the incident was not immediately available.
Braswell enlisted in October 2024 from Colorado. He reported to the Kennedy in March 2025. Rodriguez’s Article 32 hearing is scheduled for Aug. 25.
The Kennedy has been under construction at Newport News Shipbuilding and recently completed its sea trials.
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