Tough call. Either admit he was assassinated which shows that your security was compromised, or that he was an incompetent fool who can’t even clean a pistol correctly.
Wonder how far up the chain that decision was made at considering he was a general.
Gotta say, I have been watching those old John Wayne movies. Muzzle discipline was non existent in those days, it seems. A miracle there weren’t more accidental discharge injuries.