Ft. Bragg sniper charged with murder
The Associated Press
FORT BRAGG, N.C. Ÿ The Army sergeant accused of killing one soldier and injuring 18 others in a predawn sniper attack has been formally charged with murder and attempted murder, the Army said Saturday.
Sgt. William J. Kreutzer also was charged with assault and weapons violations in the Oct. 27 ambush on members of the 82nd Airborne Division based at Fort Bragg, a statement from the fort said.
Kreutzer, of Clinton, Md., remained in a military jail at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville.
Proceedings to summon a military grand jury, similar to those of a civilian grand jury, were expected to be ordered by Kreutzer's brigade commander today, the statement said.
Military officials have not decided whether to seek the death penalty, a spokesman for the 82nd Airborne, Maj. Rivers Johnson, told the Fayetteville Observer-Times in Sunday's editions.
The Army said the gunman opened fire on the 1,300 paratroopers as they set out in the fog and dark on a four-mile run. The sniper hid in some pine trees overlooking the exercise field at Towle Stadium. Soldiers tackled him to the ground soon after the shots were fired.
Kreutzer was charged with killing Maj. Stephen Mark Badger, 18 counts of attempted murder, four counts of maiming and two counts of weapon and ammunition violations.