» Lucas Trent Vinson-KBR Ms Sparky

Spc. Beyshee Velez court-martialed for the murder of KBR employee Lucas Trent Vinson

March 13, 2010 — Ms Sparky

Lucas "Trent" Vinson

Soldier court-martialed in man’s killing in Iraq

The trial for Spc. Beyshee Velez will likely take place this summer

By Gregg K. Kakesako-Star Bulletin
POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Mar 13, 2010

A 31-year-old Schofield Barracks soldier will face a general court-martial, probably this summer, for allegedly killing a civilian contractor after a daylong standoff at a military base in Iraq last year.

In one of his first actions since assuming command of the 25th Infantry Division last month, Maj. Gen. Bernard Champoux ordered this week that Spc. Beyshee Velez, a combat medic who has served three tours in Iraq, face a court-martial for the death of Lucas T. Vinson, an employee of Houston-based KBR, near Tikrit on Sept. 13. KBR provides services including housing, meals, mail delivery and laundry. (Read the rest of the story here…)

Posted in A Soldiers Story, CONTRACTOR DEATHS, Indictments, Convictions & Arrests, Lucas Trent Vinson-KBR, Reports & Investigations, Working Overseas. Tags: Arrests, Beyshee Velez, Employee Issues-KBR, Lucas Vinson. 3 Comments »

Velez fit to face court martial for the shooting death of KBR employee Lucas Trent Vinson

February 16, 2010 — Ms Sparky

Attorney: Schofield soldier accused of Iraq shooting had psychotic episode

By William Cole
Advertiser Staff Writer

WHEELER – ARMY AIRFIELD — The attorney for a Schofield Barracks soldier accused of shooting to death a civilian contractor in Iraq said today that an Army mental fitness board found that the soldier likely experienced a short psychotic episode.

Spc. Beyshee O. Velez, 31, a three-time Iraq war veteran, was days away from leaving the country when he allegedly shot to death civilian contractor Lucas “Trent” Vinson on Sept. 13, 2009, at Contingency Operating Base Speicher in Northern Iraq.

Vinson, 27, worked for Houston-based KBR at COB Speicher with his father, Myron “Bugsy” Vinson and an uncle. KBR provides troops with essential services, including housing, meals, mail delivery and laundry.

Velez is charged with two counts of murder, three counts of assault and one count of fleeing apprehension. (Read the rest of the story here…)

Posted in CONTRACTOR DEATHS, Indictments, Convictions & Arrests, LOGCAP III - KBR, Lucas Trent Vinson-KBR. Tags: Arrests, Beyshee Velez, Employee Issues-KBR, Lucas Vinson. 2 Comments »

Hearing for soldier accused in Lucas Trent Vinson’s death

February 16, 2010 — Ms Sparky

Soldier accused in killing to have hearing Tuesday

By Gregg K. Kakesako – Feb 14, 2010

A hearing will be held Tuesday for a 31-year-old Schofield Barracks soldier accused of killing a civilian contractor in Iraq last fall.

Spc. Beyshee Velez—assigned to the 3rd Bronco Brigade Combat Team’s Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 3rd Battalion, 7th Field Artillery—is accused of shooting Lucas “Trent” Vinson with an M-4 carbine on Sept. 13. He was on his third Iraqi combat deployment.

Vinson, 27, had been working for Houston-based KBR when he was killed.

Velez has been in the Army for 10 years and with the 25th Infantry Division since 2005.

He is charged with two counts of murder, one count of trying to elude Air Force security forces at Contingency Operating Base Speicher and three counts of assault. The Army said that although Velez has been charged with two different counts of murder, he could be convicted of only one of the two murder specifications. (Read the rest of the story here…)

Posted in CONTRACTOR DEATHS, GOV. CONTRACTORS, Indictments, Convictions & Arrests, LOGCAP III - KBR, Lucas Trent Vinson-KBR. Tags: Beyshee Velez, Employee Issues-KBR, Lucas Vinson. No Comments »

Spc. Beyshee Velez charged with two counts of murder

October 23, 2009 — Ms Sparky

Soldier accused of killing contractor gets hearing date

By Gregg K. Kakesako
POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Oct 23, 2009

A 31-year-old Schofield Barracks soldier charged with killing a civilian contractor in Iraq last month will face the military equivalent of a preliminary hearing Dec. 8 in a Wheeler Army Airfield courtroom.

Spc. Beyshee Velez — assigned to the 3rd Bronco Brigade Combat Team’s Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 3rd Battalion, 7th Field Artillery — is accused of shooting Lucas “Trent” Vinson with an M-4 carbine.

Velez, who was on his third combat deployment to Iraq, has been confined to the Ford Island brig, where he was taken shortly after the Sept. 13 shooting.

He is charged with two counts of murder, one count of trying to elude Air Force security forces at Contingency Operating Base Speicher and three counts of assault.

After hearing all of the testimony presented at Velez’s Article 32 hearing, the presiding officer will send his recommendation to Maj. Gen. Robert Caslen, commanding general of the 25th Infantry Division, who will determine whether a court-martial will be convened.

A murder conviction by court-martial could result in life imprisonment for Velez.

Vinson, 27, had been working for the Houston-based KBR since 2003 when he was killed.

Vinson’s family was told by Army officials that he was shot three times after picking up a soldier who flagged down his vehicle at Contingency Operating Base Speicher near Tikrit, about 105 miles north of Baghdad. A KBR manager said the shooting occurred at 8:30 a.m. near the project manager’s house.

Velez was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division in 2005. He deployed to Iraq from August 2006 to October 2007 with the division’s 3rd Brigade. It made its second deployment to Iraq a year later.

The brigade returned this month from another yearlong Iraq deployment. (click HERE for the original article)

I had gotten the called from Camp Speicher approximately an hour after Lucas Vinson had been shot and killed by a US soldier. I was also told the soldier may have shot up to two other people, probably soldiers. But the DoD would not confirm that. Now I see that Spc. Beyshee Velez is being charged with two counts of murder and three counts of assault among other things. Who else did he kill?

Ms Sparky

Posted in CONTRACTOR DEATHS, Indictments, Convictions & Arrests, Lucas Trent Vinson-KBR. Tags: Beyshee Velez, Lucas Vinson. 2 Comments »

Spc. Beyshee Velez charged for Lucas Trent Vinson shooting death

September 22, 2009 — Ms Sparky

US soldier charged with murder in Iraq base death

BAGHDAD — A U.S. soldier has been charged with murder in the slaying of a civilian contractor on an American base in Iraq, the military said Tuesday.

Spc. Beyshee Velez of Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, was charged Monday in the Sept. 13 shooting death of a contractor who worked for Houston-based KBR at Camp Speicher in the city of Tikrit, a military statement said.

The 31-year-old suspect faces dishonorable discharge and a maximum sentence of life in prison if found guilty. He is being held in Hawaii pending the outcome of the trial. He was also charged with assault and fleeing arrest.

Velez is assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division.

The military statement gave no other details and said the investigation into the shooting was ongoing.

The slain KBR employee, 27-year-old Lucas Vinson, was from Leesville, Louisiana.

Authorities told Vinson’s family that he was shot three times after offering a ride to an American soldier who flagged down his vehicle on the base, according to his mother.

Vinson had worked in Iraq for five years before returning to Louisiana for a time. He returned to Iraq last year with KBR. He worked on the base with his father and uncle.

KBR is the primary support contractor in Iraq, providing troops with essential services, including housing, meals, mail delivery and laundry.

The U.S. military makes wide use of contractors in Iraq for security, technical support and supply functions.

According to an AP count, 1,396 civilian employees of U.S. government contractors have been killed in Iraq since the war began in March 2003. (click HERE for original article)