CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. — A Pentagon spokesman says the fatal shooting of a Marine on guard duty at a North Carolina base appears to have been an accident.
Department of Defense spokesman Army Col. Steven Warren told reporters Wednesday that indications point to a “negligent discharge” as the cause of Tuesday’s death in a guard shack at the main gate to Camp Lejeune.
Base spokesman Nat Fahy says it will take several weeks of examination to confirm that the shooting was accidental.
The Marine who fired the single shot from his M4 rifle about 5:30 p.m. remains in custody while the Naval Criminal Investigative Service reviews the incident. He hasn’t been publicly identified.
The victim’s name won’t be made public until at least 24 hours after next-of-kin are notified, following standard military procedure.
