Army Sergeant Charged in Ft. Bragg Sniper Attack

The Army sergeant accused of killing one soldier and injuring 18 others in a sniper attack has been formally charged with murder and attempted murder, the Army said Saturday.

Sgt. William J. Kreutzer also was charged with assault and weapons violations in the Oct. 27 ambush on members of the 82nd Airborne Division based at Ft. Bragg, a statement from the base said.

Kreutzer, of Clinton, Md., remained in a military jail at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, N.C.

Proceedings to summon a military grand jury, similar to those for a civilian grand jury, were expected to be ordered by Kreutzer’s brigade commander Monday, the statement said. There were no further details, and calls made to the 82nd Airborne were not returned Saturday.

The Army said the gunman opened fire on the 1,300 paratroopers as they set out in the fog and early-morning darkness on a four-mile run.

The sniper hid in pine trees overlooking the exercise field at Towle Stadium. Soldiers tackled him soon after the shots were fired.

Kreutzer was charged with killing Maj. Stephen Mark Badger, 18 counts of attempted murder, four counts of maiming, and two counts of weapon and ammunition violations.