5 Fort Lewis soldiers now charged with murder in Afghan deaths

[Bluebear]

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. – Five Stryker Brigade soldiers from Joint Base Lewis-McChord have been charged with murder in the slaying of three Afghan civilians earlier this year, the Army said Wednesday.

The three separate killings happened between January and May near Forward Operating Base Ramrod in southern Afghanistan's Kandahar Province, said Fort Lewis spokeswoman Lt. Col. Tamara Parker. She said she did not have information yet on the circumstances of the civilian deaths.

Officials at the base south of Tacoma said Pvt. 1st Class Andrew Holmes, 19, of Boise, Idaho, Spc. Michael Wagnon, 29, of Las Vegas, Nev., and Spc. Adam Winfield, 21, of Cape Coral, Fla., each were charged Tuesday with one count of premeditated murder.

Staff Sgt. Calvin Gibbs, 25, of Billings, Mont., and Spc. Jeremy Morlock, 22, of Wasilla, Alaska, were charged earlier this month with three counts each of premeditated murder and one count of assault.

All five soldiers are assigned to B Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100616/ap_on_re_us/us_afghan_probe