Alcohol a possible factor in Afghan civilian killing spree

A senior military official says investigators probing the
shooting spree that killed 16 Afghan civilians are looking
into the possibility that alcohol played a role.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity to the
Associated Press because the investigation is under way.

The official says it’s unclear whether the suspect had
been drinking before disappearing from his military base
in Kandahar province or whether alcohol was simply found
in his living space at the base.

Military rules prohibit the use or possession of alcohol
in a war zone.

The 38-year-old soldier was deployed to Afghanistan on
Dec. 3 with the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment of
the 3rd Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, based at
Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

He was attached Feb. 1 to the village stability program in
Belambai, a half-mile from one of the villages where the
attack took place, a source of the Associated Press said.

The soldier, who has been in the military for 11 years,
served three tours in Iraq and is married with two
children, was being held in pretrial confinement in
Kandahar by the U.S. military while Army officials review
his complete deployment and medical history, according to
the source.

The family of the suspect was moved onto the base at
Lewis-McChrod for their own safety, according to reports.

The soldier reportedly suffered a mild traumatic brain
injury in the past, according to ABC news sources, either
from hitting his head on the hatch of a vehicle or in a
car accident. He went through the advanced treatment at
Fort Lewis and was deemed “fit for combat duty” when he
was deployed to Afghanistan in December. Investigators are
now looking into whether he suffered from Post Traumatic
Stress Disorder.

ABC news has also reported that when the soldier returned
from his last deployment in Iraq he had difficulty
reintegrating and had marital problems.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.