Alex Quiros, R.I.P.: Air Force Cadet's Death Followed Wisdom Teeth Removal

Update below: On Wednesday, a funeral service is expected to take place at the Air Force Academy for Cadet First Class Alex Quiros, who died in an AFA dorm last Thursday.

Thus far, however, the cause of death has not been shared, and the circumstances are unusual.

For one thing, he is said to have had his wisdom teeth removed shortly before he was found suffering from a thus-far-unspecified injury.

Quiros's Facebook page features plenty of family photos, including this one....


...as well as this shot of him posing in uniform:


According to the AFA announcement of his death, Quiros, a Colorado Springs native, "was a senior majoring in astronautical engineering. He made the Dean's List (grade point average of 3.0 or higher) and Commandant's List (cadets with military performance averages of 3.0 or higher) multiple times, most recently in the Fall 2014 semester."

The Colorado Springs Gazette notes that he previously attended Cheyenne Mountain High School. One of his former tennis coaches described him as being "an impressive young man" who "wasn't afraid of anything."

As for what happened, an AFA release says only that he "was found April 2 with injuries in his dormitory room and pronounced dead at the scene at 3:43 p.m. The cause of death is not known at this time."

The Gazette adds that the dorm in question was Sijan Hall, in an area closed to the general public.


Foul play isn't suspected, but a source cited by the paper notes that Quiros's wisdom teeth were removed at an AFA clinic earlier in the day.

Whether this could have been a factor in what happened or was merely a coincidence isn't known at this time. But there's no doubt that Quiros's death has shaken the academy.

"Our deepest sympathies and sincere condolences go out to the family and friends of Cadet Quiros," said Lt. Gen. Michelle Johnson, the AFA's superintendent, said in a statement. "We lost a member of our Air Force Academy family, and it's a loss felt across our entire institution. Right now, our focus is on providing all possible support to the friends and loved ones of our fallen Airman."

We add our condolences to the friends, family and loved ones of Alex Quiros. For more about his services, click here.

Update: The details of Alex Quiros's memorial service have been set. It will take place at Funeral Service, 1:45 p.m. Wednesday, April 8, at the U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel, 2306 Sijan Drive, on the Air Force Academy campus.

Those interested in making memorial donations in Alex's name are encouraged to give to the Astronautics Department Fund either online at this site or by mail at USAFA Endowment, 3116 Academy Drive, Suite 200, USAF, Academy, 80840. More information can be found here.
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