A 20-year-old U.S. Marine from Kent was fatally shot while on leave with a fellow Marine in a small town in Georgia.
Pvt. Anahitdeep Singh Sandhu died at Perry Hospital after being shot several times Sunday evening near the parking lot of an apartment complex in the town, according to a news release from the Perry Police Department.
Sandhu attended Kent schools while growing up, including Kentwood High School in Covington, according to Facebook posts.
“The whole KW class of 2017 is pretty shook up,” said one woman, whose daughter attended Kentwood.
“My daughter knew him since kindergarten,” posted another woman. “Very sad and tragic event.”
Perry Police, the FBI and the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office arrested a 25-year-old man Tuesday for investigation of murder, according to the The Telegraph newspaper website in Macon. Detectives arrested the man in Macon, about 30 miles from Perry.
Police have not said what may have prompted the shooting, according to The Telegraph. The arrested man was living at the apartments where Sandhu was shot.
Sandhu came to Georgia with another Marine who was from there, according to the Marine Corps Times. It appears the Marines were crashing with friends at the apartment complex, Police Capt. Heath Dykes told the Marine Corps Times. He said Sandhu has no connections to the area.
Sandhu was assigned to Marine All Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 224, Marine Aircraft Group 31, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, in Beaufort, S.C., according to Marine 1st Lt. Sam Stephenson. Stephenson said the squadron is currently conducting training in Idaho, according to the Marine Corps Times. Sandhu was a part of the unit that stayed back in Beaufort.
Sandhu served as an aviation ordnance, whose duties include handling aviation ammunition issues from safety to procurement.
During his time in the Marines, Sandhu was awarded the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and a National Defense Service Medal, according to Lt. Col. Joshua Pieczonka, Sandhu’s commanding officer.
“Our deepest condolences are with Private Anahitdeep Sandhu ‘s family, friends and fellow VMFA(AW)-224 Marines and Sailors,” Pieczonka said in a statement to The Telegraph. “Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this extremely difficult time. The command’s priority is to take care of this Marine’s family and affected fellow Marines and Sailors.”
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