The soldier who was shot fatally at the motorized infantry brigade No. 1 “Moldova” in Balti municipality, Mihai Usurelu, was wounded accidentally by a mate. According to the preliminary inquiry, the incident happened because the security norms were violated. The two soldiers had guarding experience of over half a year. The soldier who shot is still in a state of shock and didn’t make depositions yet. He faces five to seven years in jail for not respecting the security norms, IPN reports.
According to the head of the Military Police, Colonel Viorel Placinta, soldier Mihai Usurelu, who was to come off duty, went to another guard post without announcing or receiving permission to do this. “The shift corporal told sentinel Mihai Usurelu not to leave the post, but the soldier didn’t react and went on. At that moment, the sentry of another post went out without permission, loaded the gun and fired a shot at Usurelu,” the colonel told a news briefing.
Viorel Placinta also said that after the wounded soldier was given first aid, he was taken to the emergency hospital, but could not be saved there. “The Ministry of Defense deeply regrets this tragic case and expresses its condolences to the grieving family. It is a heavy loss for the family. The National Army’s administration will do its outmost and will support the family in these difficult moments,” said the colonel. The soldier died because of hemorrhage during surgery.
Two similar cases happened in 2011. On March 21, 2011, a National Army soldier serving in the Joint Peacekeeping Forces was shot dead by a fellow as a result of a moment’s inattention. On September 21, 2011, a soldier was shot mortally in Cahul by a mate while on guard. The soldier who shot got three years for violating the rules of handling guns.
