Friendly Fire, AKA Murder
Sgt. David Cooper
A Fort Lewis tank soldier has been charged with murdering his Fort Lewis platoon sergeant in Iraq, the News Tribune reports today. It may be a case of friendly fire, or non-hostile fire - the latter is similar to a friendly fire death but takes place in non-combat situations.
Details were sketchy, but the Trib says that while tanker Cpl. Timothy Ayers, 21, is accused in the Sept. 5 Baghdad pistol-shooting of Sgt. 1st Class David A. Cooper Jr., 36, the death was not thought to be premeditated or intentional, and is classified as a "suspected negligent discharge."
Fatal accidental discharges are hardly uncommon in war zones. Among those we've written about was Capt. James Shull of Kirkland. He was accidentally killed in 2003, on routine patrol in Baghdad, when one of his men tossed a rifle into the back of a Humvee and the M-16 discharged. Shull, 32, married with three children, was killed instantly.
2 comment(s)
Gemini Gypsy says:
I hate that term, \"friendly fire,\" and the other sugar-coated terms are no better. The tragic reality remains--another innocent person was shot to death.
Children should not play with guns. Bring them home. Peace.
Posted On: Wednesday, Dec. 5 2007 @ 10:30AM
Riotgear says:
It\'s odd they\'re calling this murder, and the possible fragging of Ft. Lewis Ranger Pat Tillman wasn\'t - officially, anyway. Do you murder someone when you shoot them accidentally but not murder them when you meant it? Wish TNT had more info.
Posted On: Wednesday, Dec. 5 2007 @ 4:39PM