FAYETTEVILLE, NC — The trial of a second solder accused of driving an Asian-American private to suicide last fall is to begin at Fort Bragg.
Spc. Ryan J. Offutt of Greenville, Pa., is charged with negligent homicide and other offenses in the death of 19-year-old Danny Chen of New York. Authorities say Chen shot himself last year in Afghanistan after being hazed over his ethnicity.
Last month, Sgt. Adam Holcomb was convicted of mistreating Chen days before Chen’s suicide, but he was acquitted of being a cause of Chen’s death. Holcomb was sentenced to 30 days in a military prison, demotion of one rank and forfeiture of more than $1,100 in pay. Six other soldiers also are charged in Chen’s death.
The Fayetteville Observer reports that Offutt’s court martial is to begin on Monday.