Fort Bragg Soldier Who Killed Commander Dies

Spc. Ricky Elder was facing legal problems in Army and personal life

By Mark Russell, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 2, 2012 12:27 AM CDT
Updated Jul 2, 2012 2:41 AM CDT

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Fort Bragg Soldier Who Killed Commander Dies — Army investigators work the scene of a fatal shooting last week at Fort Bragg, NC, where officials said Spc. Ricky Elder killed an officer and shot himself, dying of his injuries the next day. (AP Photo/The Fayetteville Observer- Drew Brooks)

A soldier who shot and killed his battalion commander at Fort Bragg last week, injured a second soldier, then shot himself has died of his injuries, reports AP. Spc. Ricky G. Elder, 27, died Friday while receiving treatment at a local medical center, according to an Army news release issued yesterday. Lt. Col. Roy Tinsdale was killed by Elder during a safety briefing, according to officials.

Elder had been facing legal difficulties both in the military and his personal life. He had recently been charged by the Army with stealing a $1,700 toolkit and was awaiting a court martial. In addition, Elder was scheduled to appear in court for sentencing on an aggravated battery charge, stemming from a 2010 incident in a sports bar where he reportedly punched a woman in the face. Elder served in Iraq and Afghanistan. (More Fort Bragg stories.)

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