An ex-Army soldier in Alabama has been sentenced to greater than 20 years in a navy jail after being convicted of killing a comrade throughout a combat of their barracks.
Pvt. Brian Jones Jr., 24, pleaded responsible on Jan. 29 to at least one rely of unpremeditated homicide within the demise of Pvt. Abdul N. Latifu, 21, of New York Metropolis. Jones, who was dishonorably discharged in line with the Fort Rucker Public Affairs Workplace, will serve his sentence on the U.S. Army Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
The killing occurred on Jan. 10, 2023, with the case coming to a conclusion final Thursday after a virtually two week court-martial continuing. Following his demise, Latifu was described by Army officers in an announcement as a “promising younger soldier.”
“The homicide occurred simply over three years in the past, and it has been an extended highway to justice, however in the present day is the day that Pvt. Jones is lastly held accountable for taking the lifetime of Pvt. Latifu,” Fort Rucker Lt. Col. William Wicks, a prosecutor with the Headquarters of the Army Workplace of Particular Trial Counsel, instructed Army.com. “Pvt. Latifu was not solely a soldier; he was additionally a beloved son, uncle and brother.”
Software Utilized in Lethal Battle
Authorities stated Jones murdered Latifu at Fort Rucker in Alabama the place the 2 shared the identical barracks.
Each troopers have been assigned to the first Battalion, thirteenth Aviation Regiment, 1st Aviation Brigade, U.S. Army Aviation Middle of Excellence on the time of the incident.
Prosecutors maintained that Jones attacked Latifu with an entrenching software or small shovel, also called an e-tool, throughout a combat. Army officers haven’t launched a motive for the assault. The 2 troopers have been each coaching to turn into air site visitors controllers.
“Whereas the conviction and sentence can not reverse the tragic lack of Pvt. Latifu, we will solely hope that in the present day’s consequence is step one in permitting Pvt. Latifu’s household to start to heal,” Wicks stated.
Jones was arrested by navy police shortly after Latifu was killed and charged with homicide.
Dishonorable Discharge Added to Jail Time
Jones was sentenced to 247 months of confinement, which quantities to twenty years and 5.8 months in a navy jail.
Moreover, Jones was demoted to the rank of E-1—the bottom enlisted paygrade within the U.S. navy, representing entry-level personnel in coaching with no insignia worn on uniforms. Jones was additionally ordered to forfeit all remaining pay and allowances, together with being given a dishonorable discharge.
“I want to thank the legislation enforcement professionals of the U.S. Army Felony Investigation Division’s Southern Area Workplace for the excellent help they supplied within the investigation and prosecution of this case from starting to finish,” Wicks stated.
Historical past Of Soldier-On-Soldier Killings
Soldier-on-soldier killing is thought in navy circles as “fratricide,” which is loosely outlined because the killing of 1’s brother or sister.
Specialists say it has existed all through navy historical past, with notable spikes throughout occasions of low morale and excessive resentment.
There was additionally the “fragging” phenomenon of the Vietnam Warfare. From 1969 to 1972, greater than 900 documented and suspected incidents occurred, typically involving fragmentation grenades used in opposition to superiors. The time period “fragging” has advanced since then to now be outlined as any deliberate killing of navy colleagues.
The U.S. navy investigates and prosecutes all homicides and acts of violence that occur inside its jurisdiction, working with the Army Felony Investigation Division and the Workplace of Particular Trial Counsel. Nevertheless, soldier-on-soldier killings are thought of uncommon.
Between 2006 and 2021, there have been 619 homicides of troopers—equating to about 3.2 % of all soldier deaths throughout that timespan. There have been 19,378 complete active-duty deaths between these years, with the very best numbers attributed to accidents (6,198), self-inflicted (4,930), sickness or harm (3,470), and killed in motion (2,740).
