 New York Times -- A New Jersey soldier killed when a stressed-out comrade opened fire at a U.S. base in Baghdad was in the wrong place at the wrong time, his older brother said Wednesday.
Sgt. Christian Bueno-Galdos, 25, of Paterson, N.J., was one of five soldiers killed at a combat stress clinic at Camp Liberty.
Military officials said Sgt. John Russell, 44, of Sherman, Tex., shot the soldiers Monday, including two counselors, after being ordered to get help.
Carlos Bueno-Galdos, 28, said his brother was at the clinic to support a friend.
"That's the only reason I see," he said. "He was fine. He was okay. He loved the military. He just always wanted to help people out, no matter what."
Friends and family gathered at the slain soldier's home Wednesday before traveling to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware to retrieve his remains.
"He had such a future," said his dad, Carlos, Sr., 58, who last spoke to his son two weeks ago.
"My heart is gone," said his grief-stricken mom, Eugenia, 54.
Christian Bueno-Galdos, who moved with his family from Peru in the early 1990s, was married, with no children. His wife, Graysin, was too distraught to speak.
His brother said the family doesn't blame Russell, a 15-year Army veteran.
"Only God can blame him," he said. "I can say a lot of stuff, [but] I know my brother is not a person who would be looking for revenge."
Russell is in the brig at Camp Victory in Baghdad, charged with five counts of murder and one count of aggravated assault.
Officials said he snapped after his weapon was confiscated and he was sent to the clinic. At the clinic, he argued with the staff and was escorted out but then seized his escort's gun, returned and opened fire.
Russell's father, Wilburn, told CBS News his son said he was being "harassed" by his superiors and was worried he was being pushed out of the Army.
"We're devastated," he said. |
