Fort Rucker, Ala. (WDNews) — A Fort Rucker soldier is headed to a military prison after pleading guilty to killing a fellow trainee in 2023.
Brian Jones Jr., 24, pleaded guilty to one count of unpremeditated murder in the death of Abdul N. Latifu, 21, of the Bronx, New York, according to the Fort Rucker Public Affairs Office. The court-martial concluded Jan. 29.
Jones was sentenced to 247 months — just over 20 years — in confinement at the U.S. Army Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He also received a dishonorable discharge, reduction to E-1 and total forfeiture of pay and allowances.
Pvt. Latifu was killed during a disagreement with Jones in a Fort Rucker barracks on Jan. 10, 2023, while both were trainees in the Army’s air traffic control operator advanced individual training course. Authorities previously said a disagreement became deadly in the early morning hours.
The plea and sentencing bring a military justice conclusion to the case that began with Jones being charged in 2023 for attacking and killing Latifu.
Edited: Change was made from saying fight to disagreement.
