SARASOTA - We now know the name of the U.S. soldier accused of shooting and killing five of his fellow troops; He's Army Sergeant John M. Russell. What we still don't understand is why he may have done it.
Speculation now rests on the stress of combat and having to spend months even years away from home. Defense officials say Sgt. Russell apparently used a weapon he wrestled away from another soldier at a stress clinic in Iraq.
Russell was on his third tour of duty. A military spokesman says he had recently been referred to counseling by his commander. He says the commander had ordered that Russell's weapons be taken away.
Sergeant Russell has been charged with five counts of murder and one count of aggravated assault. His father believes he snapped under pressure.
Sarasota neuropsychologist Dr. Geoffrey Kanter says the stress of combat can cause Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. "My understanding is approximately 20% of folks have a possible diagnosis of PTSD. But that figure is really difficult to get a handle on."
The problems faced by some troops coming home from Iraq is well documented. Here on the Suncoast former U.S. Marine Eric Hall struggled with life back in society. While visiting relatives in Charlotte County Hall disappeared and was found weeks later dead inside a drainage pipe.
"You do have folks who've been away for a long time. They've missed their families they've been under stress things have happened while they've been away communication may have been a problem...so coming home is a stressful experience" says Dr. Kanter.
Dr. Kanter wants to stress that these violent events are very rare. "It's not something I think we need to be worried about. It is something we need to be concerned about to make sure they get the appropriate help they need so that when they do come back they have the coping skills to reintegrate back into society."
One of the victims had talked about the accused shooter to his mother over the weekend. She says her son told her "this guy's got issues."
The military says among the five dead were two doctors and three enlisted personnel.
