NC-based Marine guilty of shooting comrade in game

CAMP LEJEUNE — A North Carolina-based Marine has pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter after shooting a fellow Marine to death in a game intended to show the comrades trusted each other.

The Daily News of Jacksonville reported Friday that Cpl. Mathew Nelson also pleaded guilty to seven counts of reckless endangerment for pointing his 9mm pistol at other Marines in the hut the unit shared in Iraq. Nelson was sentenced to eight years confinement during a court martial.

Lance Cpl. Patrick Malone died from a gunshot to the head.

Lance Cpl. David Skinner testified he’d often seen Marines point a gun and ask the target whether he trusted he wouldn’t be shot.

A Camp Lejeune spokeswoman said Friday she did not have ages and hometowns for Nelson and Malone.

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