Navy Investigating Death Of 20-Year-Old Midshipman At Naval Academy

The United States Navy is investigating the death of a 20-year-old midshipman at the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) in Annapolis, Maryland, the academy announced Sunday.

Midshipman Second Class Kyle Philbert James was a junior at the academy from New Jersey, studying history, the academy told CBS affiliate WJZ. He was a member of the 36th Company and participated in the USNA Gospel Choir.

The circumstances of James’ death remain unknown at this time, pending an investigation. He was reported missing from his classes at 5 p.m. Thursday, according to the Baltimore Banner.

“I got a phone call from his battalion officer at the Naval Academy telling me that he didn’t show up for any of his classes,” Dyane James, Philbert’s mother, told Connecticut television station WFSB Eyewitness News 3, according to the Baltimore Banner.

“It is painful to lose a member of our Naval Academy family, and as we attempt to better understand this tremendous loss, we offer our deepest condolences to Philbert James’ family, close friends, classmates, and company mates during this extremely difficult time,” the academy said in a statement to WJZ

The USNA told the 🏢Daily Caller News Foundation that the investigation remains ongoing and that their condolences were with the family.

“It is painful to lose a member of our Naval Academy family, and as we attempt to better understand this tremendous loss, we offer our deepest condolences to Philbert James’ family, close friends, classmates and company mates during this extremely difficult time,” a USNA spokesperson told the DCNF