Fort Bragg Soldier Responsible for Thursday's Shooting Has Died in Hospital
Media release from the Fort Bragg Public Affairs Office.
The subject of a criminal investigation surrounding the shooting of two Soldiers who were members of the 525th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade has been identified as Spc. Ricky G. Elder, an infantryman from Hutchinson, Kansas. He died of self-inflicted injuries on June 29 after receiving treatment at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center in Fayetteville, N.C.
Elder, 27, was recently charged with larceny of a toolkit valued at $1,700 and was pending court martial for that charge. Charges had been referred but his trial had not been scheduled.
Elder enlisted in the Army in 2004 and was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 509th Infantry Regiment, Fort Richardson, Alaska; and 1st Battalion, 29th Infantry Regiment, Fort Benning, Ga.; before being assigned to 525th BfSB in June 2010.
Elder deployed to Iraq from October 2006 to November 2007 and to Afghanistan from September 2010 to July 2011.
Bj fu
11:55 am on Sunday, July 1, 2012
ThiS story is a complete lie and cover-up by the government and media. He was a good soldier that loved his country.
Kelly Twedell
5:49 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
BJ, nobody is denying he was not a good soldier - the questions all are asking is why did this happen, what else was going on in his life that seemed so overwhelming.
Kelly Twedell
5:51 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
Send me your positive comments and sentiments about who he really was and I'll create a tribute page for him.
so sad
12:28 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
I agree he was a great soldier and passionate about what he did. The average person reading this story will never know all the things leading up to this. I will remember him as one of my best friends and an even better father. I don't agree with how he went about everything but I know the real story and will never judge him. Every person has a breaking point and when u put the future of a man's family in jeopardy you may not be in the right state of mind. Rest in peace Ricky 6-28-2012. (and yes it says the 28th he died that day...unlike the media says...don't belive everything u hear)
Kelly Twedell
5:50 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
So sad, I'd like to create a 'tribute' page to Ricky if you are willing to write some great things that you remember about him over the years. Thanks!
Cynthia Wesley
2:03 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
I don't know what the previous comments are about, but whatever it is just does not justify the cold blooded murder of the battalion commander. For him to bring a gun to formation shows it was pre-meditated.
Shane
2:48 am on Monday, July 2, 2012
A good soldier doesn't shoot his Battalion Commander. This whole thing is sickening and my only hope is that he would have survived so he could have stood trial. You can say what a great father he is and how he is the best friend but as soon as someone makes the choice to end someones life and then theirs they have gone off the deep end. You can be the greatest guy in the whole world and do one act like this and it'll erase everything you have ever done.
SF Wife
1:05 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
I agree, if he was that miserable, he should've of just shot himself. Why involve innocent people. It takes a great deal of courage to kill yourself, but clearly this man was a coward to kill another man because he couldn't face his punishment. That generation never ceases to amaze me. May God be with the families who are affected by this tragedy.
Shane
2:53 am on Monday, July 2, 2012
One more thing, why would you make a memorial page for a murderer? How about you don't waste your time on this guy and maybe do something for the Battalion Commander. You remember him right? He was the officer who served honorably and had a family and was shot in premeditated murder by this stealing SPC. Do something for the BC's family and forgot about SPC Elder.
Kelly Twedell
6:03 am on Monday, July 2, 2012
Thanks Shane, something is in the works for the Battalion Commander. We are giving the family time to grieve and not reaching out to them right now, whereas Ricky's family and friends are reaching out to us wanting others to know who he was before this terrible incident happened.
MASTER SERGEANT
9:22 am on Monday, July 2, 2012
I'm also a soldier at Ft. Bragg, NC and this whole tragedy is really sad for all to bear. As we stood in formation getting our safety brief and news came of a Battalion Commander being shot and was dead, it was like we the United States were getting attacked all over again. I didn't know the victims but they were and still are soldiers to me. For the people that knew the soldier my heart goes out to you, his family and unit. For the Battalion Commander and Family, my heart goes out to them with prayers. I try not to find blame on these acts but as an NCO. I try to fill the void left for us all to endure with our soldiers, leaders and family. For the editor that is trying to do your job, thanks for doing what you do. In times like this, the letters NCO stands for N need, C compassion, O overall. God Bless us all and take care.
Kelly Twedell
8:46 pm on Monday, July 2, 2012
Thanks for the perspective Master Sgt. It makes me sad to know that someone had the world on his shoulders and had nobody to turn to for help. Thanks for your compassion in this terrible situation.
sad friend
12:07 pm on Sunday, July 8, 2012
Maybe Tisdale was involved from the beginning in setting him up to lose all that money which he rightfully earned. No one says that murder is ok but no one needs to say shit unless they know for sure. And since everyone believes what they read it sure is funny how now all of a sudden the army is saying it was two other soldiers that were involved with the tool kit but of course won't list names or rankings huh. Maybe Ricky found all this all and seeing how his mind at 27 was struggling he shouldn't have still been there in the first place. Pay attention to soldiers with issues properly and maybe things like this wouldn't happen.