US Marine arrested for murder of Japanese woman in Okinawa hotel
Lance Corporal Devin Jacob Ballard, 20, is suspected of killing Anna Yagi, 39, in a Naha hotel and stealing her belongings. Japan lodged a formal protest with the US.
US Marine held over killing of Japanese woman at Naha hotel
A 20-year-old US Marine has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a Japanese woman and stealing her belongings at a hotel in Naha, the capital of Okinawa prefecture, nbcnews.com reports.
Lance Corporal Devin Jacob Ballard is suspected of killing Anna Yagi, 39, on Saturday before taking her wallet and backpack, local police said. Ballard was arrested at 1 a.m. local time on Sunday and has denied the allegations, according to police.
Ballard was stationed at Futenma Air Station on Okinawa Island at the time of the alleged incident.
The US Embassy in Tokyo confirmed on Sunday that "an investigation is underway to determine the facts of the case," adding that "the United States is communicating and cooperating with the Government of Japan and local authorities," in a post on X.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi characterised the incident as an alleged robbery and murder, expressing deep concern. "The occurrence of such an extremely brutal and heinous incident is a matter of profound regret, and as the Government of Japan, we have lodged a strong protest with the U.S. side," she wrote on social media.
Japan's Ministry of Defense declared it was "deeply outraged by the extremely brutal and heinous crime committed by a U.S. Marine," and demanded "stricter discipline" and "thorough measures to prevent recurrence."
The III Marine Expeditionary Force, the US Marine Corps combat force headquartered in Okinawa, said it was cooperating with Japanese authorities over "allegations of serious criminal actions by a Marine." It added that "the Marine Corps takes these allegations very seriously and expects every Marine to adhere to the highest standards of behavior."
US Ambassador to Japan George Glass said he had spoken with Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Okinawa Governor Genta Koja, pledging full cooperation as the investigation continues.
Approximately 18,000 US Marines are based in Japan, with the majority stationed in Okinawa, located just 60 miles from Taiwan at its closest point. The US administered the island from the end of World War Two until 1972, and the ongoing military presence has long generated resentment among local residents.
The incident revives memories of the 1995 abduction and rape of a 12-year-old girl by three US servicemen, which triggered mass protests involving tens of thousands of people and prompted Washington and Tokyo to negotiate measures to reduce the US military footprint on the island.
Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)