LOS ANGELES (LALATE) – Justin McNeley is confirmed dead at age 30. Justin McNeley’s death is confirmed by Jim Kerr, his uncle and an Colorado State Legislator, and his father. Kerr tells the Denver Post that Justin McNeley has been identified as the sailor who passed recently during a Taliban showdown that captured national news.

McNeley’s father works for the City of Encinitas. He sent an email to friends Monday confirming his son’s passing. “I regret to pass this information on, but I was informed by the U.S. NAVY this morning that my son was the one that was killed in the conflict”.

Kerr said to the Post: “He was young, full of energy, a good kid and a patriot defending his country. To me it’s like a flashback to when my cousin was killed in Vietnam. It brings back all those memories,” Kerr told the paper. “My wife is very distraught as is Justin’s mother. The family is very close.”