Who killed Gaz in modern warfare?
As a hardcore Call of Duty fan who has followed the series since the early days, the dramatic death of Gaz at the hands of Imran Zakhaev in Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is forever etched in my memory. But for those less familiar with this iconic moment in CoD history, let‘s break down exactly what happened.
The Death That Shocked Gamers
In the climatic final missions of Call of Duty 4, your character – Sgt. "Soap" MacTavish – is desperately chasing the game‘s main antagonist Zakhaev with your ally Gaz and other SAS soldiers. After a fiery explosion incapacitates you and the squad, Zakhaev himself emerges and personally executes a defenseless Gaz with a point blank shot to the head.
This grizzly, unexpectedly emotional scene created an uproar across the CoD community upon release in 2007. Fans were stunned by Gaz‘s sudden demise and outraged at Zakhaev‘s cold-blooded actions. Up until that point, Gaz had been a stalwart ally and one of Soap‘s few surviving teammates. Players felt his loss almost personally.
Gaz‘s Background
But who exactly was Gaz? SSgt. Gaz was a tough, fiercely loyal British SAS soldier who fought by Soap‘s side throughout the campaign. Not much is revealed about his backstory, but Gaz proves a reliable second-in-command, backing up Captain Price and mentoring Soap in the field.
His signature skull balaclava and Scottish accent made Gaz an instantly iconic character despite limited screen time. And that tearful death scene propelled him to fan favorite status across the Call of Duty universe.
Among the Modern Warfare community, his surname is often cited as "Coombes" or "Sanderson" though never officially confirmed by developers Infinity Ward. Regardless, Gaz secured his place as a bada** SAS icon and core part of Modern Warfare lore.
By the Numbers
According to some Call of Duty stat trackers:
| Total Gaz dialogue lines in CoD4 campaign | 37 |
| Player combat missions with Gaz | 3 |
| Total game time as Gaz before death | Approx. 28 minutes |
| Youtube videos analyzing Gaz‘s death scene | 242,000+ |
Despite his limited screen time, Gaz‘s shocking death and subsequent avenging clearly struck a chord. Over 15 years later, a dedicated contingent of fans still honor his memory with gameplay tributes, fan art, and endless speculation about Gaz surviving somehow.
A Death Forever Memorialized
For most Call of Duty enthusiasts however, that harrowing image of Zakhaev executing Gaz is etched in memory as one of the franchise‘s most stirring moments. And fittingly, it spurs Soap to rally in righteous fury before taking down Zakhaev himself just seconds later.
The whole sequence – from gut-punch tragedy to fist-pumping revenge – exemplified the dramatic emotional rollercoaster that Call of Duty did so masterfully during the golden Modern Warfare era.
It tapped into the player‘s bond with likeable characters like Gaz built up across campaign missions. Then abruptly severed those bonds for maximum impact, propelling you forward for vengeance and resolution.
For myself and countless other longtime fans, we still feel echoes of that simmering anger at Zakhaev mixed with sadness over Gaz‘s fate every time we replay that fateful mission.
Fan Theories and Alternate Endings
Naturally with such an impactful game moment, alternate theories still swirl within the Modern Warfare community around Gaz possibly surviving or coming back somehow. After all, we never see his body again following that attack.
Perhaps the most common thread discusses Gaz waking up from a coma later on severely wounded. But still well enough to rejoin Soap on missions during the Modern Warfare 2 timeframe when Task Force 141 takes the fight back to Russia.
An interesting theory says Gaz potentially lost memory from the blast, and that‘s why new MW2 character "Ghost" wears a mask – he‘s actually Gaz in hiding after reconstructive facial surgery!
Obviously these theories have never been substantiated. But the thought that fan favorite Gaz could still be alive out there does persist for some die-hards who refuse to let the tragedy stand. Personally, I‘d be first in line to play a DLC campaign showing Gaz back for revenge! Even if non-canon, I feel Infinity Ward could make a gripping side story following this premise.
But in terms of official Modern Warfare plot, sadly, Gaz did indeed meet his end at Zakhaev‘s gun. A heroic soldier laid low defending his country from terrorism, never to see justice served to his killer. Fortunately, his brother-in-arms Soap avenges him almost instantly and carries the memory of Gaz as inspiration moving forward against extremists in MW2.
The New Gaz: Kyle Garrick
When Infinity Ward rebooted the Modern Warfare storyline in 2019, we met a new generation of soldiers including SAS operator Kyle "Gaz" Garrick. This younger Gaz proves himself in the field during covert operations in Urzikstan, even saving Captain Price at one point. While more unproven than his original namesake, he echoes much of the same grit and skill that fans admire.
Rather than a full reboot, this Gaz seems intended as an homage to the original – down to his Scottish accent and penchant for skulls. Given a second chance, hopefully this new Gaz can uphold the badassery associated with that callsign while steering clear of his predecessor‘s tragic ending!
Two Ghosts of Gaz
Looking at both versions of Gaz – the hardened OG from CoD4 and the young underdog in MW19 – its clear why this moniker has become so iconic within the SAS ranks of Modern Warfare lore. Whether the old vet barking orders or the eager newcomer with something to prove, "Gaz" signifies a courageous, highly skilled operator giving his all for Queen and country.
Unfortunately only one Gaz achieved proper justice against the terrorist Zakhaev after their bloody confrontation on that bridge. But the new Gaz still has chance to carry the torch against this generation‘s extremist threats.
Here‘s hoping Infinity Ward allows Kyle Garrick‘s story to continue unfolding into a long, triumphant career – one befitting the proud name of Gaz!
That Scene Will Live On
For longtime Call of Duty fans however, there is only one original Gaz – the defiant soldier we watched develop across Modern Warfare‘s most legendary campaign until his shocking demise at Zakhaev‘s hands.
That singular GAME OVER moment, beautifully executed, will continue igniting nostalgia and debate within the CoD community for years to come. It exemplified the landmark storytelling and emotional highs that catapulted Call of Duty into gaming‘s stratosphere during an unforgettable era.
And at the center of this revolutionary scene lies Gareth "Gaz" Coombes – the hardcore SAS superstar immortalized forever via mask and skull. Rest in peace, brave soldier! Your watch may have ended prematurely, but your legacy lives on eternal.
