A well-liked Long Beach high school graduate passed away last week after an accident on the rifle range at Fort Leonard Wood on Sept. 5, where he was undergoing basic training as part of the United States Army’s 48th Infantry Regiment. Andrey Okunev was 18 years old and a recent graduate of Sato High School last June.
A native of Belmont Shore, Okunev attended Lowell, Rogers, and Sato according to a GoFundMe page set up to benefit his family. The page has raised over $28,000 of a $35,000 goal.
Okunev’s death was mourned by those who knew him. He had deep connections in the Long Beach youth soccer world as a longtime volunteer referee with AYSO Region 177, which represents Belmont Shore and East Long Beach and plays many of its games at Stanford Middle School.
“He was there every Saturday from before 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.,” said Jaime Sayre, a board member at AYSO 177 and the assistant referee administrator for the region. “If he wasn’t refereeing he was helping out cleaning up the fields or putting away goals, he was just that kind of kid–so kind and generous with his time. He was a shining example for all the children who were there.”
Okunev never played soccer himself, a rarity for AYSO volunteers. He got involved when his younger brother was playing on a select team with AYSO in the Fall of 2021 and they needed referees. He kept coming back after that and in 2022 became a weekly fixture, earning AYSO Region 177’s Youth Referee of the Year award in 2022 and 2023 after volunteering to ref 40-50 games a season.
Because he turned 18 during the 2024 season, the organization gave him their Referee of the Year award, recognizing his service not just as a kid helping out, but as the top ref out of all the adults volunteering.
“He was an example to all the children and especially the other youth referees,” said Sayre, who added that before he left for basic training he came to a Spring tournament with them even though he was no longer volunteering. “He came and hung out with them for old time’s sake just to say I want to do this one more before I leave. He was just that kind of kid. Both of my boys were close with him and really liked him–parents and coaches have been reaching out with support. His legacy as a youth referee and a volunteer in our region will never be surpassed.”
According to Missouri news reports, officials said an investigation into Okunev’s death is being handled by Fort Leonard Wood law enforcement and the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division. No other soldiers were injured in the incident.
