Suspected Fort Bragg shooter dies

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FORT BRAGG, N.C., July 1 (UPI) -- The soldier stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C., who shot and killed a battalion commander then shot himself, has died of his injuries, a hospital official said.

Spc. Ricky G. Elder, 27, of Hutchinson, Kan., died Saturday at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, a nursing supervisor at the hospital confirmed to the Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer.

Elder was accused of fatally shooting Lt. Col. Roy L. Tisdale during a unit safety briefing Thursday.

A third soldier, Spc. Michael E. Latham, 22, received minor injuries from a ricocheting bullet and was treated at Womack Army Medical Center and released, the newspaper reported.

All three soldiers were members of the 525th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade.

Elder was facing court-martial for larceny charges after he allegedly stole a $1,700 toolkit at Fort Bragg, military officials said.

Elder's lawyer, Les Hulnick, of Wichita, Kan., told the Observer his client had a pending court case in Kansas. Elder had pleaded guilty to a felony charge of aggravated battery for punching a woman in the face at a bar. Hulnick said Elder was due in Reno County court in Kansas Friday for his sentencing hearing.

Hulnick said he was shocked to hear of Elder's alleged involvement in the Thursday shooting.

"All my dealings with (Elder) were extremely pleasant, and it's just a heartbreak," he said. "As far as I could see, he was just a hell of a good soldier, and he made a wrong move in a bar here."