U.S. Soldier Guilty in Kuwait Shooting

FORT STEWART, Ga. (AP) â€” An Army specialist was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter for killing a fellow soldier while on guard duty in Kuwait. <br><br>Spec. Johnny Brewer, 23, of Tennille, Ga.,

Thursday, July 20th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

FORT STEWART, Ga. (AP) â€” An Army specialist was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter for killing a fellow soldier while on guard duty in Kuwait.

Spec. Johnny Brewer, 23, of Tennille, Ga., was sentenced Wednesday to 12 years in prison for the Dec. 29 shooting death of Pfc. Christopher D. Baber.

Brewer said he and Baber were playing around with their guns, and didn't think his 9mm Army-issued pistol was loaded when he put it to Baber's neck.

Baber, 19, of Paris, Ky., died at a hospital in Kuwait City.

Military Judge Col. Kenneth Pangburn also found Brewer guilty of false swearing and making a false official statement.

Both soldiers were members of the 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry, from Fort Stewart. They had arrived in Kuwait in mid-December as part of a routine training rotation.