Page 6 - ARUBA TODAY

A6 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 12 July 2017
Soldier expressed support for IS but remained in military

By AUDREY McAVOY was concerned by the simi-
Associated Press larities between Kang and
HONOLULU (AP) — A U.S. Hasan’s case.
soldier who was recently ar- Kang’s court-appointed
rested on terrorism charges defense attorney, Birney
expressed support for the Bervar, said his client may
Islamic State group as early suffer from service-related
as 2011, but remained in mental health issues of
the Army for years while which the government was
the military and the FBI in- aware but neglected to
vestigated to determine treat. He declined to elab-
whether he posed a threat, orate.
authorities said. The FBI believed Kang was
Sgt. 1st Class Ikaika Kang a lone actor and not af-
was taken into custody filiated with anyone else,
over the weekend after said Paul Delacourt, the FBI
the 34-year-old veteran of agent in charge of the Ha-
deployments to Iraq and waii bureau.
Afghanistan declared his A 26-page affidavit from
loyalty to the terrorist group FBI agent Jimmy Chen filed
and exclaimed that he Monday in court detailed
wanted to “kill a bunch of how Kang thought he was
people,” according to au- dealing with people work-
thorities. In this Monday, July 10, 2017 photo, Clifford Kang, father of soldier Ikaika E. Kang, poses with ing for Islamic State but
The case highlights the photo of his son in Kailua, Hawaii. Ikaika E. Kang, an active-duty U.S. soldier, was arrested over the who were actually under-
challenges investigators weekend on terrorism charges that accuse him of pledging allegiance to the Islamic State group cover agents. Kang and
face with protecting the and saying he wanted to “kill a bunch of people.” the agents together made
public from a potentially (Bruce Asato/The Star-Advertiser via AP) combat training videos he
dangerous actor on one filed Monday in federal Retired Army judge and was just mouthing off and believed would be taken
hand and gathering suffi- court. prosecutor Col. Gregory was not a threat. to the Middle East to help
cient evidence to enable The Army revoked his secu- A. Gross said he was per- Gross served as the initial prepare the group’s sol-
prosecution on the other. rity clearance in 2012, but plexed that the Army al- judge in the court martial of diers to fight American
Kang is on record mak- gave it back to him the fol- lowed Kang to remain a Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, an forces, according to the af-
ing pro-Islamic State com- lowing year. Last year, the soldier even after his favor- Army psychiatrist who killed fidavit. Kang had received
ments and threatening Army called the FBI when it able comments toward the 13 people and wounded the highest level of com-
to hurt or kill other service “appeared that Kang was Islamic State group. more than 30 in a 2009 bat training available in
members back in 2011, ac- becoming radicalized,” But Gross said the Army shooting at Fort Hood, the Army and was a mixed
cording to an FBI affidavit the affidavit said. may have decided Kang Texas. He said Tuesday he martial arts enthusiast.q

Minnesota homeowner gets
90 days in jail after killing man

ST. JAMES, Minn. (AP) — A in the car have been sen-
Minnesota man who shot tenced on burglary counts.
and killed a suspected bur- One of the others said they
glar was sentenced Tues- had intended to burglarize
day to 90 days in jail by a Pettersen’s home.
judge who said the hom- “I take no satisfaction from
eowner opened fire “out his death and I will carry
of fear and maybe some that awful responsibil-
stupidity.” ity with me for the rest of
David Allen Pettersen, 65, my life,” Pettersen said in
of Madelia was sentenced court. He buried his face in
in Watonwan District Court his hands after reading his
after pleading guilty earlier statement.
to dangerous discharge of Embertson’s mother, Tracy
a firearm. He originally was McCabe, said in a state-
charged with manslaugh- ment that Pettersen “con-
ter. Pettersen also received sciously took the law into
a one-year prison sen- his own hands.” She de-
tence, which was stayed, scribed her life since her
two years’ probation and son’s death as “endless
100 hours of community sadness and lifelong hell.”
service, the Mankato Free Pettersen said an unin-
Press (http://bit.ly/2sNfScd vited person on his deck
) reported. Pettersen fatally had frightened him in the
shot 19-year-old Nicolas early morning. He said he
Embertson of Madelia on grabbed his gun and went
Jan. 28 when he fired at outside into his driveway
a vehicle that was fleeing where he said a car rushed
from his home. Two others at him.q