Updates on Camp Liberty shooting

U.S. soldier charged with murder in Iraq shooting deaths
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NEW: Suspect struggled with fellow soldier over weapon, defense official says

Army Sgt. John Russell charged in killings of five fellow soldiers

Russell, 44, of Texas serving third tour in Iraq

Military spokesman: Russell referred to counseling, had gun confiscated recently

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- The U.S. soldier who authorities say killed five fellow troops -- including a Navy commander -- at a stress clinic in Iraq on Monday apparently used a weapon he wrested away from another soldier, a Defense official said.


After getting the weapon, the soldier stole a military vehicle and drove to the clinic, where earlier he had been in a fight, the official said.

The shooter was identified as Army Sgt. John M. Russell, according to Maj. Gen. David Perkins, the military spokesman who briefed reporters in Baghdad, Iraq, on Tuesday. Russell has been charged with five counts of murder and one count of aggravated assault after the shooting at Camp Liberty, near Baghdad's international airport, Perkins added. Watch how the Army is handling the case »

A 44-year-old communications specialist from Sherman, Texas, Russell is serving his third tour in Iraq and has previously deployed to Bosnia and Kosovo, according to his service record.

His father, Wilburn Russell, also of Sherman, said Russell had e-mailed his wife saying he believed unidentified officers were trying to run him out of the military.

"As far as he was concerned, the military was the most wonderful thing that ever happened to him," Wilburn Russell said. "Evidently, he felt they turned against him and life was over. He didn't care any more, I guess.

"He broke. He just couldn't handle it."
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U.S. soldier charged with murder in Iraq shooting deaths
U.S. soldier: murder charges 3:50
CNN's Cal Perry reports on U.S. soldier charged with shooting and killing 5 fellow soldiers in Iraq.
U.S. soldier: murder charges

According to this report the stigma of PTSD lives on and keeps soldiers from getting the help they need.

5 US soldiers shot at Camp Liberty in Iraq

Five US soldiers shot dead at Iraq base
51 minutes ago

BAGHDAD (AFP) — Five US soldiers were killed in a shooting at American base Camp Liberty in Baghdad on Monday, the military said in a statement.

"Five coalition forces members were killed in a shooting at Camp Liberty in Baghdad today at approximately 2 pm (1100 GMT)," the statement said.

It added that the incident was under investigation, without providing further details on who may have been behind the attack.
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Five US soldiers shot dead at Iraq base


UPDATE

Officials: U.S. soldier in Baghdad kills 5 troops
updated 3 minutes ago
Story Highlights
NEW: Official now says it's unclear if gunman is among dead

Source says U.S. soldier opens fire on fellow troops

Five killed and three others wounded in incident

Shootings took place at Camp Liberty in Baghdad
U.S. soldier in Baghdad kills 5 troops

UPDATE 5-11-09 2:25pm

Official: U.S. soldier kills 5 at Camp Liberty

By Robert H. Reid - The Associated Press
Posted : Monday May 11, 2009 13:17:53 EDT

BAGHDAD — A U.S. soldier opened fire at a counseling center on a U.S. base Monday, killing five fellow soldiers before being taken into custody, the U.S. command and Pentagon officials said.

The shooting occurred at Camp Liberty, a sprawling U.S. base on the western edge of Baghdad near the city’s international airport and adjacent to another facility where President Barack Obama visited last month.

A brief U.S. statement said the soldier “suspected of being involved with the shooting” was in custody but gave no further details. Nobody else was hurt, the military said. It was unclear what provoked the shooting.

In Washington, Pentagon officials said the shooting happened at a stress clinic, where troops can go for help with the stresses of combat or personal issues. It was unclear whether those killed were workers at the clinic or were there for counseling. No details were released about the gunman.
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U.S. soldier kills 5 at Camp Liberty

UPDATE
9:48 p.m.

Soldier kills at least 4 in clinic shooting
By Michelle Tan - Staff writerPosted : Monday May 11, 2009 19:53:35 EDT

An American soldier got into a verbal altercation with staff at a combat stress clinic on Camp Liberty, Iraq, returned to the clinic and shot five people Monday, killing at least four soldiers, said an Army official who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The soldier, whose identity had not been released Monday evening, was in custody, officials said.
The shooting occurred at Camp Liberty, a large U.S. base on the western edge of Baghdad near the city’s international airport.
According to the Army official, details of the incident continue to emerge as investigators continue their work, but preliminary reports show the soldier was was being escorted to the clinic, for reasons not yet explained. Once inside, he got into a verbal altercation with the staff and was asked to leave. The soldier and his escort got back into their vehicle and began to drive away, according to the Army official.
At some point during the drive, the soldier got control of his escort’s weapon and ordered the escort out of the vehicle, the Army official said. The soldier then drove back to the clinic, walked in and began shooting, the official said.
Army reports show five people were shot; four of them, all soldiers, were killed. Their identities have yet to be released, pending notification of their families.
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Soldier kills at least 4 in clinic shooting