Soldier fatally shot after returning from Iraq

[LeVeL]

TOPEKA, Kansas (AP) -- A Fort Riley soldier who recently returned from a second tour of duty in Iraq was killed and another soldier was critically wounded in violence that erupted at a rented home in a rural area 30 miles from the base.

Sgts. Aaron Stanley, 22, of Bismarck, North Dakota, and Eric Colvin, 23, of Papillion, Nebraska, were charged in connection with the murder Monday night of Staff Sgt. Matthew Werner, 30, of Oxnard, California, at a home west of Clay Center.

The two also were charged with attempted first-degree murder for the shooting of Spec. Christopher Hymer, 23, of Nevada, Missouri, who is in critical condition in a Wichita hospital.

Stanley already faces eight unrelated drug charges filed in June. It was Stanley's rented home where the shootings took place, and authorities believe he called police. A rifle and a handgun were found at the scene.

Authorities have not said what triggered the bloodshed.

Werner had returned to Fort Riley about a month ago for surgery on a hand injured during a game of football in Iraq. He was married and had won the Army Achievement Medal for his service.

Fort Riley spokeswoman Sam Robinson said all four soldiers were assigned to the post and were members of the 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry, 3rd Brigade, 1st Armored Division.

Werner deployed to Iraq in June with about 800 soldiers from the same unit, now serving its second tour of duty in Iraq. Robinson said Colvin, Hymer and Stanley were assigned to the unit's rear detachment that remained at Fort Riley. Details about Werner's assignment were not released.

Fort Riley is home to about 10,500 soldiers, of which more than 3,000 are deployed to Iraq.