The Department of Defense announced today all three Marines killed Friday by an Afghan police officer were assigned to 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion at Camp Pendleton.
Two of the Marines were California natives.
Killed were:
Capt. Matthew P. Manoukian, 29, of Los Altos Hills, California,
Staff Sgt. Sky R. Mote, 27, of El Dorado, California, and
Gunnery Sgt. Ryan Jeschke, 31, of Herndon, Virginia.
According to media reports, the Afghan police officer shot the three Marines to death after inviting them to a pre-dawn meal. Home Post reported on Friday:
Taliban spokesman Qari Yousef Ahmadi told the Associated Press the shooter is a member of Helmand police named Asadullah. Ahmadi claims Asadullah had been working with U.S. service members to train local Afghan Police. Ahmadi says after the fatal shooting of the U.S. troops, Asadullah joined the Taliban insurgency.
The military is investigating the murders.
