Wanted US Marine commits suicide in Canada

AP via SFGate ^ | 2/13/9

[SmithL]

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, Canada (AP) -- A Marine wanted by the U.S. military for abandoning his unit sneaked across the border into Canada and fatally shot himself outside his mother's farmhouse, police said Friday.

Timothy Scott, 22, was holding a pistol when police found him in the road outside his mother's home in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, Sgt. Mark Gallagher of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said.

"Police spoke to him to try to talk him out of using the gun ... and unfortunately the circumstances unfolded and he took his life," Gallagher said.

The Marine had served at Camp Lejeune, N.C., and is thought to have left his unit around Tuesday, police Staff Sgt. Mark Furey said.

[cripplecreek]

It appears that he chose desertion one last time. I feel bad for his family.

[libstripper]

May the traitor roast in Hell.

[KoRn]

One less “phony soldier”....

[TNLawyer]

He is obviously mentally ill if he took his life.

This is not the same as a coward who deserts the army to save his hide.

I have pity not only for his family, but him too.

I certainly don’t hope he roasts in hell. That is very disturbing.

As a Christian, I don’t want anyone to go to hell. I don’t believe that mentally ill people who commit suicide are going to hell if they gave themselves to the Lord earlier in their life.

Let’s just hope he was a Christian.

** I’ve never known anyone who took their life, so I’m not trying to justify anything. I just have empathy for someone who is obviously mentally ill. **

[sinanju]

A tragedy, but something tells me the Canadian Option is going to lose popularity mighty quick.

[csvset]

Later, jackass!

[familyop]

What a shame. The Marines and the Army have resources for depressed soldiers/Marines and soldiers/Marines will bad personal situations (at home, administrative and the like), but that requires their buddies to see the warning signs and report them. Then the chain of command is supposed to refer such cases to chaplains/psychs. Once in a while, they’ll miss a subtle case or ignore an obvious one. We, as human beings, and our administrative systems, are far from being perfect.

[familyop]

Yes. I was older than the rest of the soldiers in initial training (OSUT—over three months), counseled them and did suicide watch a few times. Granted, I had to do the training, too, and at a later age, so I couldn’t be with every one who needed help. ...lost over 10% to suicides/attempts and stress fractures during the first eight weeks. Training for real combat specialties (no women) is far more physically and mentally rigorous than training for other specialties.

[yldstrk]

nice to do to your mother as*hole

[longhorn too]

Surely you were not thinking when you stated “may this traitor roast in hell.” Do you have all the facts that preceded this unfortunate action he took? Do you know if he had been in combat which may have pushed him over the edge? Have you ever served in the military and seen combat? If you have then you should no better, if not you have no idea what you are talking about.

[TNLawyer]

I agree with you.

This is not a case where someone fled to Canada to escape death. This guy killed himself. He was messed up BIG time.

People who kill themselves are being selfish to those they leave behind, BUT most are obviously wrong in the mind. With the few details we know, this seems to be the case in this story.