FORT BRAGG, N.C.— A jury at Fort Bragg has found an 82nd Airborne Division lieutenant guilty of two counts of murder in connection with a series of shootings in Afghanistan.
1st Lt. Clint Lorance was found guilty by the jury Thursday. He was found not guilty of making a false official statement.
According to a New York Times report, Lorance was sentenced to 20 years in prison, forfeiture of pay and dismissal from the military.
Prosecutors said Lorance ordered his men to open fire immediately in violation of the military’s rules of engagement, which requires soldiers to hold fire unless they have evidence of hostile action or hostile intent. They said three men on a motorcycle approached the patrol in July 2012. Two were killed and the third ran away.
The Times called Lorance’s case “remarkable because he is only the second Army officer charged with murder in a battlefield death during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.”
Attorneys for Lorance said he was trying to protect his unit.
According the the Times’ report, Lorance joined the Army on his 18th birthday and deployed to South Korea and Iraq as an enlisted soldier. He became the first in his family to graduate from college and was deployed to Afghanistan in March 2012 as an officer, the paper reported.
Updates
December 13, 2016
I am honestly overwhelmed by the messages appearing here because I never imagined so many people would care about this case. Please know that I read every single comment you leave and I am humbled by your dedication to finding the truth.
December 13, 2016
I am honestly overwhelmed by how many of you have stepped up to support this cause. This momentum belongs entirely to your dedication and I am just humbled to be a part of it.
45 Comments
I am familiar with the UCMJ, I consider this a miscarriage of military justice. This officer was carrying out his duties. First and foremost is take care of his men.
DNA is compelling. Prosecutors did not disclose all pertinent information in their possession.
Only a combat veteran, or any vet, could understand what this man faced. Your being four deep in security disqualifies you to even comprehend his choice. Before your leaving office, give me, as a veteran, at least one thing I can admire about you - give this hero a full pardon.
I think Lt. Clint Lorance should be released. We place these boys in harms way and expect them to make instant decesions and then expect them to be perfect.
What is the military coming to when Bergdahl is walking free and Lorance is in jail!
Read Don Browns Book- I stand with Clint. I am absolutely disgusted with how nthe military has treated him. Bad ROEROE
Free clint
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FORT BRAGG, N.C.— A jury at Fort Bragg has found an 82nd Airborne Division lieutenant guilty of two counts of murder in connection with a series of shootings in Afghanistan.
1st Lt. Clint Lorance was found guilty by the jury Thursday. He was found not guilty of making a false official statement.
According to a New York Times report, Lorance was sentenced to 20 years in prison, forfeiture of pay and dismissal from the military.
Prosecutors said Lorance ordered his men to open fire immediately in violation of the military’s rules of engagement, which requires soldiers to hold fire unless they have evidence of hostile action or hostile intent. They said three men on a motorcycle approached the patrol in July 2012. Two were killed and the third ran away.
The Times called Lorance’s case “remarkable because he is only the second Army officer charged with murder in a battlefield death during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.”
Attorneys for Lorance said he was trying to protect his unit.
According the the Times’ report, Lorance joined the Army on his 18th birthday and deployed to South Korea and Iraq as an enlisted soldier. He became the first in his family to graduate from college and was deployed to Afghanistan in March 2012 as an officer, the paper reported.
Updates
December 13, 2016
I am honestly overwhelmed by the messages appearing here because I never imagined so many people would care about this case. Please know that I read every single comment you leave and I am humbled by your dedication to finding the truth.
December 13, 2016
I am honestly overwhelmed by how many of you have stepped up to support this cause. This momentum belongs entirely to your dedication and I am just humbled to be a part of it.
45 Comments
As a daughter of a Merrill's Marauders, My dad would be rolling in his grave! How can you condemn someone for defending their troops! It's soooh wrong.
I am familiar with the UCMJ, I consider this a miscarriage of military justice. This officer was carrying out his duties. First and foremost is take care of his men.
DNA is compelling. Prosecutors did not disclose all pertinent information in their possession.
Only a combat veteran, or any vet, could understand what this man faced. Your being four deep in security disqualifies you to even comprehend his choice. Before your leaving office, give me, as a veteran, at least one thing I can admire about you - give this hero a full pardon.
I think Lt. Clint Lorance should be released. We place these boys in harms way and expect them to make instant decesions and then expect them to be perfect.
What is the military coming to when Bergdahl is walking free and Lorance is in jail!
Read Don Browns Book- I stand with Clint. I am absolutely disgusted with how nthe military has treated him. Bad ROEROE
Free clint
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As a daughter of a Merrill's Marauders, My dad would be rolling in his grave! How can you condemn someone for defending their troops! It's soooh wrong.