Sergeant found guilty of premeditated murder of 5 fellow soldiers

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD — A military judge at Joint Base Lewis-McChord ruled Monday that an Army sergeant accused of killing five fellow soldiers in Iraq is guilty of premeditated murder.

John Russell had already pleaded guilty to unpremeditated murder in the shooting attack four years ago in order to avoid the death penalty.

But Monday’s ruling states Russell planned the killings.

Russell's lawyer said the sergeant suffered from severe depression and post-combat stress.

A sentencing phase will determine whether he'll face life in prison with or without the possibility of release.

KIRO