Army: No evidence of random firing at Iraqis

[unhappycamper]

Army: No evidence of random firing at Iraqis
The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Jan 11, 2008 12:07:14 EST

FORT CARSON, Colo. — A soldier’s claim that he and another soldier randomly fired at Iraqi civilians while they patrolled neighborhoods in Baghdad is unfounded, Army investigators said Thursday.

“To date, our investigative processes that we have used have not been able to uncover any credible information or evidence to substantiate the recent allegations,” said Chris Grey, spokesman for the Army Criminal Investigation Command.

Pfc. Bruce Bastien Jr. told investigators he and another soldier used stolen AK47s to fire on civilians, saying the distinct sound of the rifle favored by insurgents allowed them to claim they had come under fire.

Bastien faces first-degree murder charges in the slayings of two soldiers and made the allegations after his December arrest in one of the slayings. He 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.

Charged in the death of Shields are Bastien, 21, and former soldiers Louis Edward Bressler, 24, of Charlotte, N.C., and Kenneth Eastridge, 24, of Louisville, Ky. Shields was found dead, with multiple gunshot wounds early Dec. 1 on a sidewalk near Old Colorado City, north of the post.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/01/ap_randomfire_080111/



uhc comment: This sounds like another Tillman job.