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MILITARY

German police arrest US soldier after deadly brawl

German police in Heidelberg have arrested a 22-year-old US Army soldier after a deadly fistfight at a bowling alley, prosecutors said on Wednesday.

The dispute late on Thursday, March 20 at the Patrick Henry Village bowling center left a 55-year-old retired American soldier critically injured. He died of his injuries on Sunday, March 23.

“Right now there is a joint investigation between US military authorities and the German police,” US Army spokesperson Richard Spiegel in Heidelberg told The Local on Wednesday. “The suspect is still in Germany custody and it’s possible that once authorities discuss the situation with US officials, he’ll be returned to US custody.”

On Tuesday, US military daily Stars and Stripes reported the suspect had been identified by the Heidelberg garrison’s provost marshal office as Spc. Douglas Reeves, assigned to Company B, AFNORTH.

An unidentified bowling centre employee told the daily that the victim, identified by the Heidelberg garrison’s provost marshal office as Donald Jones, frequented the locale to play dominoes and hadn’t had previous disputes with other patrons. Morale, Welfare and Recreation centre

“We have no idea what started it,” the employee told Stars and Stripes, who said Jones probably hit his head on a table or on the pavement outside the facility. “It was basically one punch. They both had been drinking.”

dpa