Soldier says he randomly shot at Iraqis

Soldier says he randomly shot at Iraqis
The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Jan 9, 2008 16:27:33 EST

FORT CARSON, Colo. — The Army is investigating possible war crimes after a Fort Carson soldier facing first-degree murder charges in the slayings of two Iraq war veterans told investigators he and another soldier randomly fired at Iraqi civilians.

Pfc. Bruce Bastien Jr. and two former soldiers face charges in the December shooting death of Spc. Kevin Shields, while Bastien and one of those former soldiers face charges in the Aug. 4 shooting death of Pfc. Robert James.

Fort Carson spokeswoman Dee McNutt confirmed the Army investigation detailed in a motion filed by prosecutors Tuesday seeking to combine the two slayings into one case.

Bastien said he and another soldier used stolen AK47 military rifles to shoot at civilians while their unit patrolled Baghdad neighborhoods while they were in Iraq.

“The sound of an AK47 is very distinctive,” the motion quotes Bastien as telling Fort Carson Special Agent Kelly Jameson on Dec. 10. “So if there were any questions when the shooting was heard, Bastien said they could claim they were taking on hostile fire.”


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/01/ap_randomfire_080109/



uhc comment: I can attest that the sound of an AK-47 firing is uniquely distinctive.