Family Faults Army In Case Of AWOL Soldier Killed By Police

Family Faults Army In Case Of AWOL Soldier Killed By Police
Austin Jenkins | February 28, 2011 | Fort Lewis, WA
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It was a surreal scene last August 27th in downtown Salt Lake City.

A soldier - AWOL from his base in Western Washington - emerged from an underground parking lot. He was dressed head-to-toe in combat gear and carrying a rifle.

Seconds later the soldier was dead.

Now, an internal Army investigation has found shortcomings in how the case was handled. The family of Specialist Brandon Barrett blames the Army for not intervening sooner.

Austin Jenkins has the latest installment in his year-long series following the hard-hit 5th Stryker Brigade as it transitions home.

No one will ever know what was in the mind of Specialist Barrett that day last August. He told passersby he was "in training." They immediately dialed 9-1-1. Here's what happened next as reported by TV station KSL.

KSL TV: "Shots were fired between the man and an officer...."

The officer was grazed in the leg. His return fire struck Specialist Barrett in the face killing him instantly.

Police have theorized Barrett was about to go on a shooting spree -- perhaps from the top of the Grand America Hotel. He carried a thousand rounds of ammunition.

But his brother Shane, a cop himself, has another theory.
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Family Faults Army In Case Of AWOL Soldier Killed By Police