Former Ranger found guilty of murder

[unhappycamper]

Former Ranger found guilty of murder
By Stephen Manning - The Associated Press
Posted : Thursday Apr 3, 2008 6:29:26 EDT

ROCKVILLE, Md. — A former Army Ranger was convicted Wednesday in the shooting death of a roommate and fellow Ranger he claimed had committed suicide.

The jury convicted Gary Smith of second-degree murder — depraved heart — in the killing of Michael McQueen II, but declined to convict him of first-degree murder, which could have led to a life sentence. Smith, who also was convicted of a handgun charge, could get up to 50 years in prison at sentencing, set for May 27.

Jurors deliberated for about six hours. Smith stared straight ahead as the verdict was read, and there was little reaction in the courtroom from the families of Smith or McQueen. Judge Eric M. Johnson revoked Smith’s bond, and Smith was led away in handcuffs by sheriff’s deputies.

McQueen, 22, died in September 2006 of a gunshot to the head in the apartment he shared with Smith in Gaithersburg. The men served two tours together in Afghanistan in an intelligence unit with the Rangers.

Smith, 25, steadfastly insisted that he did not kill McQueen, but changed his story repeatedly before admitting to investigators that he was in the apartment when McQueen died.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/04/ap_rangerguilty_040208/