Wouldn’t there have be an investigation before an official determination of fratricide was announced?
So what?
Exactly.
A few weeks to evaluate the actual cause is more than reasonable. I remember it annunced that it was friendly fire not that long after the announcement of his death. If it was covered up for years, that would be a different scenario.
This family, unfortunately, thinks it is entitled to more than other military families due to their son's fame. It is really quite embarrassing.
Preliminary reports of persons on the scene did not indicate friendly fire.
The Army considered it a combat death, and the Tillman family were informed of this before they buried their son.
In the meantime, the Army continued to gather information. Statements that were originally made did not add up, and so a formal inquiry was launched.
A few weeks later it became apparent that the original reports were simply not accurate.
The Tillman family is now alleging that the Army "knew" that it was friendly fire the day they buried their son, that the Army "lied" to them on purpose to make sure that Tillman's memorial would be good press and they are even suggesting that Tillman was killed intentionally - i.e. murdered - by his own brothers-in-arms, because Tillman had allegedly concluded that the war in Iraq was "illegal."
From the Army's perspective, they have admitted that maybe they should have told the Tillman family that some doubts were emerging on the original account of Tillman's death due to discrepancies in timelines, etc. - but I'm wondering how much responsibility the Army really has to report painful rumors that have not yet been substantiated.
The Tillman family are beginning to push a conspiracy narrative tailor-made by enemies of this Republic.