DynCorp employee sentenced in drunken shooting death of Justin Pope in Iraq

Court records said Palmer and Justin Pope worked as security contractors for DynCorp, a Department of State contractor, at a U.S. embassy office in Erbil, Iraq.

The 25-year-old Riverview native was employed as a civilian contractor with Falls Church, Va.-based DynCorp International, where he served as a personal security specialist.He was protecting U.S. diplomats in Kirkuk, Iraq, last Wednesday when his life was cut short by a sniper’s bullet. HERE

RIVERVIEW, Mich. —  A U.S. veteran who returned to Iraq as a civilian contractor was shot to death while protecting American diplomats in Iraq, his employer said Sunday.

Justin Pope, 25, died after being shot late Wednesday or early Thursday in Kirkuk, said Douglas Ebner, a spokesman for Falls Church, Va.-based DynCorp International.

Detroit-area television station WJBK reported Saturday that Pope was killed by sniper fire. Ebner denied that, saying Pope died of “an accidental gunshot wound.” He would not elaborate, saying the incident was under investigation by DynCorp and the U.S. State Department. Here

Miss. man sentenced for manslaughter in Iraq

GULFPORT, Miss. — Authorities say a Mississippi man who worked as a security contractor has been sentenced to three years in federal prison for accidentally shooting a co-worker in Iraq.U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola Jr. sentenced 27-year-old Kyle Palmer of Biloxi on Monday.

A news release from the U.S. attorney’s office said Palmer was intoxicated when he and Palmer pointed a 9 millimeter pistol at each other during an informal party in March 2009.  Original here

Palmer allegedly fired Pope’s weapon without checking whether the gun was loaded and accidentally killed Pope.

Justin Pope
Patricia Salser told The Associated Press that 25-year-old Justin Pope died after being shot Wednesday. Southfield television station WJBK said Pope had served two tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan and was assigned to protect U.S. diplomats in Kirkuk when he was killed by sniper fire.
Pope was employed by Falls Church, Va.-based DynCorp International. Messages seeking comment were left with a company spokesman Saturday. The U.S. military  does not keep a count of civilian deaths in Iraq, but the AP says 1,264 civilian  employees of U.S. government contractors had died through Sept. 30, 2008.  HERE