Post by samSForce on Jan 7, 2008 7:17:41 GMT -5
Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer | January 07, 2008
A Fort Bragg Soldier was shot to death Jan. 3 -- two days after his 25th birthday -- in an abandoned parking lot in Orlando, Fla., while on leave.
Sgt. Omar Junior Nunez was a parachute rigger from the 623rd Quartermaster Company, 7th Transportation Battalion, 507th Corps Support Group.
He was shot about 3:30 a.m. and was dead when lawmen arrived on the scene.
Jeff Williamson, a public information officer with the Orange County Sheriffs Office in Orlando, said investigators believe the shooting was the result of an argument Nunez and two friends had with another group of men at a nightclub in Orlando. Williamson said that after the argument, Nunez and his friends left the nightclub and made two more stops. At the second stop, Williamson said, Nunez and his friends realized they were being followed by two cars.
Williamson said he was not sure how or why Nunez and his friends ended up in the parking lot, where Nunez and both his friends were shot.
The Orlando Sentinel reported that witnesses told detectives the occupants of the vehicles following Nunez fired multiple shots at Nunez and his friends while they were still driving.
Both suspect vehicles took off after the shooting, the Sentinel reported.
Williamson said Nunez's friends survived and that both were still in an Orlando hospital on Saturday afternoon.
He said investigators are not releasing their names.
Officers arrested Xavier Reyes Ortiz, 24, in connection with Nunez's slaying on Friday night.
Williamson said he was unsure if investigators were searching for other suspects.
Nunez joined the Army in August 2002 and was assigned to the 623rd Quartermaster Company in March 2007. His past duty assignments include the 1st Special Forces Group, Fort Lewis, Wash. Nunez deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from November 2004 to June 2005.
A cousin, Jason Kent, said he had not seen Nunez for about eight years but said he knew Nunez enjoyed being a Soldier.
He said Nunez left behind a wife and young daughter.
"He was a high school football player, a good kid," Kent said. "He was always part of the family and a heartfelt young person."
Nunez's awards and decorations include the Air Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Global War On Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Parachutist Badge, Parachute Rigger Badge, and the Military Free Fall Parachute Badge.
Capt. Jackey Fortenberry, commander of the 623rd Quartermaster Company, said Nunez was an outstanding noncommissioned officer "whose presence always made a positive influence with all that he came in contact with."
A Fort Bragg Soldier was shot to death Jan. 3 -- two days after his 25th birthday -- in an abandoned parking lot in Orlando, Fla., while on leave.
Sgt. Omar Junior Nunez was a parachute rigger from the 623rd Quartermaster Company, 7th Transportation Battalion, 507th Corps Support Group.
He was shot about 3:30 a.m. and was dead when lawmen arrived on the scene.
Jeff Williamson, a public information officer with the Orange County Sheriffs Office in Orlando, said investigators believe the shooting was the result of an argument Nunez and two friends had with another group of men at a nightclub in Orlando. Williamson said that after the argument, Nunez and his friends left the nightclub and made two more stops. At the second stop, Williamson said, Nunez and his friends realized they were being followed by two cars.
Williamson said he was not sure how or why Nunez and his friends ended up in the parking lot, where Nunez and both his friends were shot.
The Orlando Sentinel reported that witnesses told detectives the occupants of the vehicles following Nunez fired multiple shots at Nunez and his friends while they were still driving.
Both suspect vehicles took off after the shooting, the Sentinel reported.
Williamson said Nunez's friends survived and that both were still in an Orlando hospital on Saturday afternoon.
He said investigators are not releasing their names.
Officers arrested Xavier Reyes Ortiz, 24, in connection with Nunez's slaying on Friday night.
Williamson said he was unsure if investigators were searching for other suspects.
Nunez joined the Army in August 2002 and was assigned to the 623rd Quartermaster Company in March 2007. His past duty assignments include the 1st Special Forces Group, Fort Lewis, Wash. Nunez deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from November 2004 to June 2005.
A cousin, Jason Kent, said he had not seen Nunez for about eight years but said he knew Nunez enjoyed being a Soldier.
He said Nunez left behind a wife and young daughter.
"He was a high school football player, a good kid," Kent said. "He was always part of the family and a heartfelt young person."
Nunez's awards and decorations include the Air Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Global War On Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Parachutist Badge, Parachute Rigger Badge, and the Military Free Fall Parachute Badge.
Capt. Jackey Fortenberry, commander of the 623rd Quartermaster Company, said Nunez was an outstanding noncommissioned officer "whose presence always made a positive influence with all that he came in contact with."