By Bill W. Cooper
The Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) has charged a dead soldier with five counts following a fatal shooting incident which occurred recently at its Star Base on the Bushrod Island.
The AFL through the Ministry of National Defense (MoD) said late Sergeant Prince Tucker (EN/2008-04/117) was charged with attempt to commit murder, aggravated Assault, the discharging of firearm willfully, under circumstances, has to endanger human life) and failure to obey order or regulation.
Addressing a news conference yesterday at his Defense Ministry office in Monrovia, Assistant Defense Minister for Public Affairs, Sam Collins said that the AFL’s decision is in line with Articles 80, 128, 134 and 92 under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) of the AFL.
According to him, five other personnel of the AFL stationed at Star Base were also recommended for the following charges under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) ranging from principals (Article 77), conspiracy (Article 81), dereliction in performance of duty (Article 92), false swearing (Article 134) and failure to obey order or regulation (Article 92).
Minister Collins explained further that though the motive behind the shooting is yet to be established by the investigation; the public can be assured that all is under control and that calm has resumed at the Star Base with other security and personnel safety actions being instituted.
“The Ministry of National Defense and Headquarters Armed Forces of Liberia acknowledge that protecting military installations and the people who work and live there from such incidents is a major undertaking,” he stressed.
The Defense Assistant Minister indicated, “Identifying security solutions and gaps on our installations where we serve has always been a priority and all recommendations coming from the investigation will be taken seriously.”
He added, “The families of the victims have been contacted and all necessary assistance or support for them has been considered including funeral arrangements for the deceased, and the Government through the Ministry of National Defense will continue to provide all necessary support to our gallant men and women in arms to uphold the Liberian Constitution and safeguard the territorial integrity of Liberia as “A Force for Good”.
It can be recalled that deceased Prince Tucker on June 6, 2022, reportedly killed himself in the shootout at the AFL’s Star Base duty station on the Bushrod Island.
According to a press release from Defense, the incident also left another soldier severely injured, and was undergoing medical treatment at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center while the Headquarters of the AFL was ordered a lockdown of that duty station at the Star Base.
