Fatal shooting of lance corporal investigated

Fatal shooting of lance corporal investigated
By Gidget Fuentes - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Jan 22, 2008 22:23:56 EST

SAN DIEGO — Marine Corps officials and naval criminal investigators are investigating the shooting death of a 19-year-old rifleman who died late Sunday in his barracks room, officials said Tuesday.

Lance Cpl. Cameron M. Babcock, of Plymouth, Ind., died of a gunshot wound to the chest, Camp Pendleton officials said in a news release.

But officials weren’t sure that foul play or suicide was involved the death of Babcock, a member of Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment based at Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, Calif.

“Thus far, information does not indicate that the shooting was self-inflicted nor intentional, but rather was the result of the negligent handling of a privately owned weapon,” officials said in the release. The Naval Criminal Investigative Service “is required to investigate all medically unattended deaths aboard” bases.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department forwarded a 911 emergency call to military police at the combat center, who found Babcock in this barracks room, the release said. He was taken to the naval hospital, where he was pronounced dead at midnight.


Rest of article at: http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2008/01/marine_shooting_080122/