Iraq service changed suspect in Burk's death, mom says (You just knew it was coming..)

Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^ | 9 MAR 2008 | AJC Staff/Wire Reports

[Libertarian444]

The mother of the man charged with killing Auburn University student Lauren Burk said her son was an Iraq war veteran who was changed after his service, and she offered an apology to the freshman's family.

Burk, an 18-year-old from Marietta, was found shot on the side of an off-campus road Tuesday night outside Auburn, and her car was found burning in a campus parking lot.

Williams told the television station that her son hasn't been the same after serving 16 months in Iraq. She says her son had been living with her in Smiths, Ala., since returning from the war. Smiths is outside Phenix City and about 30 miles southeast of Auburn.

[Eagles6]

I know quite a few Vets from WWII through today. Not a one has had any trouble with the law or any other BS.

There was a story a couple of years ago about a Vet who ambushed police out in CA. His family said that poor Andres Raya was never the same after the war. Turns out his only combat was video games.

http://michellemalkin.com/2005/01/19/the-cop-killing-marine-and-the-military-2/

[ANGGAPO]

I suspect that at the time of enlistment you should be required to submit to testing to determine your limit to mental strain and isolation. I suspect that everyone that has (been there) has seen someone come unglued, I have. I have no idea if a person's stress limit can be determined by any test, or what the limit should be but if it can be determined we should do it.

[Gay State Conservative]

...but if you compare statistics for veterans with those of non-veteran men in the same age group, the veterans are *less* likely to commit violent crimes.

I have no stats (I just picked a figure out of the air).First,we're talking about *combat* vets.Second...my guess is that the incidence of US vets...combat or otherwise....committing murder after having served is minuscule at worst.Can combat exposure drive some guys bonkers to the point that they murder? I wouldn't be surprised if it happens....rarely.

[Eagles6]

"There is probably more psychopathology in the gay community than among combat vets. Want some statistics?"

Howza bout 100%?

[fight_truth_decay]

Williams told the television station that her son hasn't been the same after serving 16 months in Iraq

Police maintain that Lockhart had attempted to rob 72-year-old Marjorie Llewellyn in a Wal-Mart parking lot on March 7, 2008. He allegedly assaulted her, forced her into her car, and said that he was going to kill her and take her car and money. Police reported that when Lockhart noticed that there was a witness, he left Llewellyn in her car, and fled in his. Lockhart pushed Llewellyn into her Toyota Camry by the barrel of his black revolver.. When Lockhart noticed that a passerby who had witnessed the attack was following them around the parking lot, he quickly exited the victim's car with her wallet and credit cards and left the scene in his 2002 Chrysler Sebring, according to Wood.

2003 high school graduate, spent three years in the Army but was dishonorably discharged for punching a sergeant...But no official account of his military record had been released by authorities.

AUBURN, Ala. — One neighbor who grew up with Courtney Lockhart (23) in his eastern Alabama town describes him as a troublemaker who liked to pick on younger boys.

Video of Auburn Police Dept./United States Marshall Service Task Force Press Report

Police also said the murder suspect was wanted on robbery charges in Columbus, Ga.,Investigators believe that Lockhart is responsible for armed robberies at a Wal-Mart in Phenix City and one in Columbus. In both incidents, the perpetrator was driving a vehicle that matches the description of Lockhart's. More charges are pending against Lockhart in those incidents, said the Newnan detective.- Times-Herald

Trial is predicted to take up to a year.

[Rembrandt]

“..Lauren Burk said her son was an Iraq war veteran who was changed after his service..”
—
Same thing happened to me. I enlisted in the Navy in ‘67 as a yute with no particular future in mind. I got out in Dec. ‘70 and life was a piece of cake. Happy and retired now, thanks to military service.

[Rembrandt]

“I suspect that if you look at stats combat vets are no more likely to kill someone than the public at large.”

---

Responding to the NY Slimes, Fox had a study on this several weeks ago. The Slimes played up numbers; Fox did an honest comparison and Vets were 80% LESS likely to commit violence vs. the same age avg population, IIRC.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

It’s an amazing process that changes lives. For some kids, the military is the first sense of discipline and belonging that they’ve ever experienced.

There isn’t a DAY that goes by that my military skills don’t help me out in some way in The Real World. Every “boss” I’ve had since I retired in 1997 is simply amazed at the amount of work I can get done in a day...with no whining and no supervision, LOL!

Of course, I’m nearly 50 years old, but we have a few 50 year olds on staff that are still pretty worthless, LOL! ;)

[FreedomPoster]

That’s pretty much the case, and probably less likely.

You should take a look at Stolen Valor - How the Vietnam Generation Was Robbed of Its Heroes and Its History.

http://www.stolenvalor.com/

[Larebil]

“Shed some light on this, for all us ignorant saps who don’t believe our soldiers are all a bunch of nutcases.”

Um where did I say that?

Some soldiers(not all) who come back need a little help adjusting to civilian life after being exposed to traumatic events.
It is no different than a kidnap victim or assault victim.
It is a fact of life.
Do me a favor, READ a psychology book and kindly get off your know it all high horse because it is getting boring FAST.

[LilAngel]

Do yourself a favor and actually meet a soldier before practicing any more of your armchair psychology on them.

[Larebil]

“Do yourself a favor and actually meet a soldier before practicing any more of your armchair psychology on them.”

You are entitled to your narrow minded opinions, not facts.

Some peopple not all, suffer psychological problems when faced with any kind of traumatic event, war, a car accident.
We are human beings not gods, and sometimes we need a little help. This is life.
Again, get off your holier than thou high horse.
Our soldiers are human beings, they laugh and cry too,
and sometimes they need our help.
No different than doctors or police officers.
I would like to see how well you hold yourself together when you see your best friend get their face and eyes blown off, or seeing a mutilated corpse of a woman whose head and limbs cut off.
Our soldiers are well trained and well prepared for urban combat, hence the success in the worst place, Felujah,
But there are always a few people that are affected by what they experience.
Again, READ before lecturing me about the mind.

[LilAngel]

Nice of you to change your tune. I was getting tired of that crap you were spewing about it being normal standard procedure for our troops to crack under pressure, and go on killing sprees because they’d seen blood. So now you’re willing to concede that they don’t all do that.

During the 1970’s I got to hear plenty of a-holes telling those same demeaning lies about our troops, and couching it behind that same false concern about their mental health. I’m not going to shut up and listen to you try to tear down our troops again. This isn’t about getting them mental health assistance. They get that when they need it without any interference from the likes of you. This is about a coward’s attempt to attack our troops, without having to actually face their enemy nor engage in real combat.

Your tactics worked real well thirty years ago. Not so much today. Our troops are getting the respect they deserve, and your psyche 101 approach to smearing them is seen for the farce that it is.

[shhrubbery!]

Well, by "see combat" I meant actually participate in combat.

I'm still waiting for the MSM to tell us what Lockhart's assignment in Iraq was. Anybody here know?

Still betting he had a job that didn't involve firing weapons against the enemy.

Many of the alleged Vietnam vets who claimed PTSD never engaged in combat. Many weren't even in 'Nam. Some weren't even veterans ... of Gnything.

And btw, to other posters who've fallen for the PTSD construct: PTSD was created by a lawyer.

The lawyer invented PTSD as an excuse to get his criminal client a light sentence (much like the "twinkie defense," aka diminished capacity, was invented for Dan White; and the "Black Rage" defense was invented for Colin Ferguson).

Since its creation, PTSD has been used --not only by scummy lawyers, but by Leftists to try to defame our military veterans, a la the latest NYT article claiming that Iraq veterans are more likely to commit vicious crimes when they come home.

See B. G. Burkett's book, Stolen Valor, for an excellent history of "PTSD." Burkett is a man of honor and a veteran himself - and can hardly be accused of hating our servicemen by exposing the fraud called "PTSD," aka PTSS.

[LYSandra]

I was upset all weekend thinking about this murder and the beautiful coed murdered where they released a photo of a black guy in the usual gang clothing look -I was infuriated that these beautiful women with a promising future were killed by these thuggy black guys for a few bucks! No regard for human life whats so ever and on top of it one “mama” offering excuses for this piece of crap son. Also a black kid with a promising future killed by gang members - hispanic for not answering what gang he belonged to -he wasn’t in a gang - they shot and killed him. It’s horrifying.

[LYSandra]

I was upset all weekend thinking about this murder and the beautiful coed murdered where they released a photo of a black guy in the usual gang clothing look -I was infuriated that these beautiful women with a promising future were killed by these thuggy black guys for a few bucks! No regard for human life whats so ever and on top of it one “mama” offering excuses for this piece of crap son. Also a black kid with a promising future killed by gang members - hispanic for not answering what gang he belonged to -he wasn’t in a gang - they shot and killed him. It’s horrifying.

[LilAngel]

Larebil, please read this post and see if it helps you to understand any of it.

[Larebil]

“Since its creation, PTSD has been used —not only by scummy lawyers, but by Leftists to try to defame our military veterans, a la the latest NYT article claiming that Iraq veterans are more likely to commit vicious crimes when they come home.”

Now that is a steaming pile of BS.

True PTSD is for instance someone kidnapped and locked in a dark room for hours or days, then when rescued they fear being in a dark room.

Liberals are talented BS artists. Since it is a NYT article, I automatically see it as lies and rubbish.

[widow]

Lockhart did serve in Iraq. My husband was his NCOIC and got killed by an IED a month before they returned to the states. Did that have a negative impact on him? I really don’t know, but I know it tore him up and that my husband was not just his NCO but also mentored him. I remember him calling me and telling me how much my husband had meant to him... Anyways, I think that it is hard for those guys to ask for help and just like kids will act out instead. The Army had a responsibility to him and they let him down. I grieve for all the families affected by this...

[roses of sharon]

It sounds like a hate crime to me.