Officials ID Marine recruit who died on Parris Island as Lawrence man

PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. — A recruit who died this week at a Marine Corps training center in South Carolina has been identified.

Pvt. Anthony Munoz, 21, of Lawrence, Massachusetts, was on his first day of training with the 3rd Recruit Training Battalion’s Lima Company when the accident occurred Tuesday at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, a local TV station in Savannah, Georgia reported.

The Beaufort County Coroner’s Office confirmed Munoz fell off a balcony at the barracks. Parris Island officials said the Naval Criminal Investigative Service is investigating.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Pvt. Anthony Munoz. Our Marines send heartfelt condolences to his family and friends,” a statement from the training center said.

Munoz’s death marks the eighth at the base since 2000.

He is the second Marine to be mourned by the City of Lawrence in recent days.

U.S. Marine Sgt. Johanny Rosario-Pichardo was killed in Kabul, Afghanistan when an explosion killed 13 service members last month. Her body will return to Massachusetts on Saturday, Sept. 11, the Massachusetts State Police confirmed to Boston 25 News.

MORE: Body of Marine sergeant killed in Afghanistan to return to MA on 9/11

Massachusetts Congresswoman Lori Trahan, a Democrat who represents the congressional district that Lawrence is in, issued a statement regarding Munoz’s death on Thursday evening:

“The tragic death of Private Anthony Munoz is heartbreaking. My thoughts go out to his family, friends, and community during this unimaginably difficult time, and my team and I stand available to assist in any way we can. Private Munoz volunteered to serve his nation – to defend the rights that we hold dear as Americans – and we owe him and his loved ones a tremendous debt of gratitude for their sacrifice.”

PREVIOUS: Pentagon identifies U.S. service members killed in action in Kabul bombing

“The news does not come to us lightly as the City of Lawrence is now suffering the loss of another service member — this time a son of our City — Pvt. Anthony Munoz, USMC,” wrote Lawrence Mayor Kendrys Vasquez in a release Thursday night.

“The family is asking for their privacy at this time and we will continue to honor their wishes as they make them. I offer the sincerest condolences from myself and my family, and my administration will remain available as we all suffer this terrible loss.”

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW

©2021 Cox Media Group