The San Andreas Air National Guard has confirmed that Governor Richard Ashcombe died at Fort Zancudo. In a reply to Weazel News, its Office of Public Affairs sent a “Statement on the Passing of Governor Richard Ashcombe”, dated 27 September and signed by Capt. Elena R. Vasquez, Public Affairs Officer. It says he died on the reservation at 03:47 on Saturday 26 September. It is the first time the military itself has confirmed that the Governor died on its base.
The time matches the medical log leaked to Weazel News on Sunday, and the State’s own confirmation less than an hour after we published it. When we first reported the leak, military press officers at the reservation did not answer questions about its medical station. The Guard has now put its own account on the record.
According to the statement, Guard personnel and medical staff “worked through the night” alongside the clinicians treating the Governor. By the Guard’s own account, then, people on the reservation knew he had died at 03:47. Hours later, the Office of the Governor, working from its “temporary seat of government” on the same reservation, told the public he was “safe, well rested”. The Guard does not say who it told about the death, or when.
The statement in full
The statement was issued by the Guard’s Office of Public Affairs and signed by Capt. Elena R. Vasquez, Public Affairs Officer. It is reproduced here in full, as written.
“San Andreas Air National Guard, Office of Public Affairs. For Immediate Release, September 27, 2026. Statement on the Passing of Governor Richard Ashcombe.”
“The San Andreas Air National Guard is deeply saddened to confirm the passing of Governor Richard Ashcombe, who died at Fort Zancudo after being transported to the reservation for emergency medical care following the earthquake on Friday evening.”
“Governor Ashcombe suffered a cardiac arrest as the earthquake struck and was flown to Fort Zancudo, where Air National Guard personnel and medical staff worked through the night alongside attending clinicians to support the emergency response. Despite those efforts, Governor Ashcombe died at 03:47 on Saturday, September 26, 2026. He was 64 years old.”
“The men and women of the San Andreas Air National Guard extend their deepest condolences to Governor Ashcombe’s family, friends, staff, and to the people of San Andreas. We are honored to have assisted in the emergency response and care provided during his final hours.”
“Fort Zancudo remains committed to supporting state leadership, emergency operations, and continuity of government during this ongoing emergency. The San Andreas Air National Guard continues to work closely with state and public safety partners as response efforts continue.”
“In accordance with direction from state leadership, flags at Air National Guard facilities will be flown at half-mast in honor of Governor Ashcombe.”
“The San Andreas Air National Guard respectfully asks the public to keep Governor Ashcombe’s loved ones and all those affected by this tragedy in their thoughts during this difficult time.”
“Capt. Elena R. Vasquez, Public Affairs Officer, San Andreas Air National Guard. Media contact: San Andreas Air National Guard Public Affairs, [email protected], (555) 010-2746.”
Through the night, on the same base
The leaked log records the Governor’s arrival at the reservation’s medical station at 21:52 on Friday. The Guard says it is “honored to have assisted in the emergency response and care provided during his final hours”.
Less than two hours after the death, at 05:40, the leaked “Continuity of Government: Interim Arrangements” notice instructed that “no public announcement is to be made pending formal succession”. Two of our three sources in the Governor’s office say they were told of the death at Fort Zancudo on Saturday morning and instructed not to discuss it. Later that day, the State’s statement called him “safe, well rested”. The death was not made public for almost 40 hours. None of that is in the Guard’s statement.
An echo, and some silences
The Guard says Fort Zancudo “remains committed to supporting state leadership, emergency operations, and continuity of government during this ongoing emergency”. The phrase echoes the title of the leaked notice. The statement does not say whether the Guard had any part in those interim arrangements.
It does not mention Harlan J. Mercer, the Chief of Staff whose signature was on the Saturday statement and whom Governor Diane Carrow dismissed on Sunday night. It does not mention the Saturday statement at all, or explain why the public was not told for almost 40 hours.
On one point it follows the new Governor’s lead. “In accordance with direction from state leadership”, flags at Guard facilities will fly at half-mast, in line with Governor Carrow’s order that flags on all State buildings fly at half-mast for 30 days.
Mission Row, and two accounts
This is not the first time the Guard and the Governor’s office have told different stories. On Saturday the office said “no aircraft was lost over Mission Row” and that the State “does not comment on aircraft that were not lost”. Less than an hour later, in its third statement on the crash, the Guard said the aircraft was an H-27 Hydra VTOL fighter on “a routine training flight” that suffered an engine malfunction.
That came after two statements in which the Guard refused to confirm that a military operation had taken place over Los Santos at all. On the Governor’s death, its account and the State’s now agree to the minute.
Our questions to Capt. Vasquez
Weazel News has sent Capt. Vasquez follow-up questions. When was the Office of the Governor told that Governor Ashcombe had died? Did the Guard know about the “safe, well rested” statement before it was issued? Was anyone at the reservation asked to stay silent?
We had no reply by the time of publication, and we will publish any answer in full. If you were at Fort Zancudo on the night of 25 September and know who was told what, and when, the Weazel News tip line is open.
