Reservist charged with premeditated murder in deadly shooting of colleague at Ga. Army post
By APTuesday, June 22, 2010
Reservist charged in fatal shooting at Ga. post
FOREST PARK, Ga. — The U.S. Army Reserve says a reservist has been charged with premeditated murder in last week’s deadly shooting of a fellow reservist at a post south of Atlanta.
The Army Reserve on Tuesday said 29-year-old Staff Sgt. Rashad Valmont was charged under military law in the shooting at the U.S. Army Reserve Center located at Fort Gillem. Military officials say 47-year-old Master Sgt. Pedro Mercado was killed.
Valmont, a native of the Virgin Islands, turned himself in after the shooting. He was being held Tuesday in pretrial confinement.
Mercado and Valmont were assigned to the Army Medical Department Professional Management Command. The unit helps with the recruitment, retention and readiness of medical units and personnel.
A woman who answered the phone at a number listed for Valmont declined to comment.
