US soldier charged with murder in shooting of contractor in Iraq
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
- 14 February 2012: Wikinews Shorts: February 14, 2012
- 14 February 2012: Santorum neologism spreads to Romney
- 12 February 2012: Amartya Sen among the scholars for US National Humanities Medal
- 12 February 2012: American pop star Whitney Houston dies at 48
- 11 February 2012: US regulators approve new nuclear reactors for first time in 34 years
A soldier from the United States is imprisoned in Hawaii charged with the murder of a civilian contractor in Iraq. Spc. Beyshee O. Velez is accused of shooting dead Lucas Vinson.
Vinson, 27, offered a ride to an American soldier who flagged his vehicle down on September 13, following which he was shot three times. He died of his wounds. At the time he was stationed at Contingency Operating Base Speicher near Tikrit and worked for KBR.
Vinson and 31-year-old Velez are both from Louisiana. Velez faces two alternate charges of murder, an assault charge and a charge of fleeing from authority. The maximum sentence he faces at his court martial if convicted is life imprisonment. Details on the shooting are scarce and the military says investigations are ongoing.
[edit] Sources
- "Schofield soldier accused of killing contractor in Iraq" — Star Bulletin, September 22, 2009
- "US soldier charged with murder in Iraq base death" — The Associated Press, September 22, 2009
