Two former Blackwater employees face murder charges
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Two former Blackwater contractors who were involved in a Kabul, Afghanistan, shooting that left two Afghans dead and a third injured have been charged with murder, the Justice Department announced today.
The charges are the latest against employees associated with the military contractor formerly known as Blackwater Worldwide and now known as Xe. The company has been a key part of the U.S.-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
A 13-count indictment charges Justin Cannon, 27, and Chris Drotleff, 29, with second-degree murder, attempted murder and weapons charges. Each faces two counts of second-degree murder, one count of attempted murder, six counts of using and discharging a firearm during a violent crime, and four counts of murder resulting from the use of a firearm during a violent crime.
If convicted, they could face the death penalty or life in prison, the Justice Department said. The indictment was returned in the Eastern District of Virginia.
According to the indictment, the pair are accused of killing two Afghans on May 5, 2009. A third Afghan was injured in the shooting.
At the time the pair was employed by Paravant LLC, which is a subsidiary of Xe. They helped train the Afghan national army for the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in the use and maintenance of weapons and weapon systems.
Cannon was arrested today in Corpus Christi, Texas, by FBI agents. Drotleff was also arrested today by FBI agents in Virginia Beach, Va.
Both men have said in recent interviews with the Associated Press that they were justified in opening fire on a car that caused an accident in front of their vehicle, then turned and sped toward them after they got out to help.
“My conscience is clear about it, but that doesn’t really matter,” Cannon said in a recent interview. “If someone’s got an agenda, then there’s nothing I can do about it.”
Several Blackwater contractors had been charged with 14 counts of manslaughter for their role in a 2007 shooting in Baghdad’s Nisoor Square. But a judge dropped those charges last week.
In another case, federal prosecutors have told a Seattle attorney they intend to charge another Blackwater contractor in the killing of an Iraqi guard in 2006.
Xe had no immediate comment.
--Michael Muskal
