Posted on 05/11/2009 4:23:03 PM PDT by SandRat
WASHINGTON, May 11, 2009 – An American soldier suspected in involvement in the shooting deaths of five U.S. servicemembers today in Baghdad is in U.S. custody, defense officials said.
The incident occurred around 2 p.m. local time at the U.S. military base Camp Liberty in the Iraqi capital. Defense officials characterized the killings as an unexpected tragedy.
“Any time we lose one of our own, it affects us all,” said Army Col. John Robinson, Multinational Corps Iraq spokesman. “Our hearts go out to the families and friends of all the servicemembers involved in this terrible tragedy.”
Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman called the shooting an “unexpected and tragic event,” adding that the incident is under investigation.
The names of the deceased are being withheld pending next-of-kin notification and release by the Defense Department.
LLS
OK, since when do they withhold the name of the SHOOTER until his family has been notified? Curious minds whant to know from this powerful logic.
Got some reason to be wary of the identity of the shooter being relaeased, other than the significant possibility he might very well turn out to be another mussie or mussie wanna-be?
The only thing I can find about him is that they have identified his rank as sergeant, but since there are thousands of men with this rank, it really does not tell you anything.
This is so sad for the families involved. If the perp is, as so many are saying, a mental case, then that gives an explantion, nonetheless, I want to see the soldier’s name and hear his religion.
When the shooter is a soldier in the US Army? Since always.
His family and dependents will be treated with due courtesy and respect.
The MSM will have time to slaver over all the details their heart desires soon enough.
For now things will be done decently.
Army Sgt. John M. Russell, 44, of Sherman, Texas. Religion not given.
Thanks, SandRat.
44 seems an awful old age to be only a SGT in the Army. If so, then that itself is a potential sign of a problem, although many National Guardsmen are older SGT’s and are absolutely fine human beings. As a generalization, however, I would look into it to see if there’ve been behavioral reasons for demoting or refusing to promote him in the past.
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