A press release from Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
U.S. Army Special Operations Command is aware of the recent arrest of Spc. Patrick P. Byrne.
Spc. Byrne is assigned to 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.
Byrne entered the Army in March 2019 as an 11B/Infantryman. He completed the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program in July 2020 and was subsequently assigned to 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. Byrne has no operational deployments.
“The actions described in reports are absolutely appalling. The Tacoma Police Department has the full cooperation of the United States Army Special Operations Command,” Lt. Gen. Fran Beaudette, Commander, U.S. Army Special Operations Command. “Our deepest condolences to the families affected by this tragedy.”
U.S. Army Special Operations Command, as well as the leadership at Joint Base Lewis-McChord are cooperating fully with the local law enforcement agencies in the on-going investigation.
michael wild says
This soldier should be punished to the full extent of the law there is no excuse for his behavior An innocent person just doing her job was killed for no reason because this individual decided to go out and drink a bunch of alcohol and do this Horrible thing to an innocent person
Anthony s says
why are you hiding what he’s charged with?
Ben Sclair says
Not hiding anything. I failed to note this was a press release – run as is – from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, not an independently reported story by The Suburban Times. The post has been updated.
0_debt says
Kind of leaving us hanging, here.
What’s the charge?
Don’t you think you should inform people so they don’t have to google “the rest of the story”?
You’re no Paul Harvey.
Ben Sclair says
Never claimed to be Paul Harvey. I failed to note this was a press release from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, not an independently reported story by The Suburban Times. The post has been updated.
Susanne Bacon says
What? To whom? When? Where? How? Why?
This article only carries the who – sorry, but real journalism answers the above questions, too. Otherwise this is no news.
Ben Sclair says
I failed to note this was a press release from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, not an independently reported story by The Suburban Times. The post has been updated.
Evelyn says
it should be enough, just to know the criminal was arrested. and if you want the dirty details, maybe the TNT can help you out. I don’t want to know the terrible things he did..God bless the Sub Times for what you do..
Tina says
Jeez people! It says “A press release from Joint Base Lewis McChord” right at the top. Your so quick to either jump to a negative conclusion or insult & berate the messenger. Even if it didn’t state the source, this is a free newsletter. Ben works hard every day putting these together and sending them out for free. Give him a break.
Susanne Bacon says
You are late in reading. 😉 It has been updated by now.
Eric Chandler says
Tina is right on the money!
The Suburban Times is THE primary vehicle for public comment on issues of importance to the citizens here in the South Sound. I know of no other such free medium that avails itself to such open discourse and reaches such a wide audience.
Absolutely…do NOT shoot the messenger, because without Ben and his continuous efforts, none of you would be able to exercise your FREE SPEECH rights so easily and without interference.
KM Hills says
Could not have states this any better. I for one glad the Suburban Times is here for all of us.
Cleo Brandt says
Ok folks here is the full story that was given:
Army Ranger at JBLM Charged with Murder for Gruesome Beating of Security Guard
24 Jul 2021
Stars and Stripes
An Army Ranger assigned to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., was arraigned Friday on charges of murder and kidnapping for beating to death a female security guard at a Tacoma office building, according to court documents and Army officials.
Spc. Patrick P. Byrne, 26, who is assigned to the 2nd Battalion of the 75th Ranger Regiment, was arrested Monday by the Tacoma Police Department. He was charged for beating and choking to death an on-duty security guard at an office building in the 900 block of A Street in the early morning hours of Sunday, according to an affidavit filed with Pierce County Superior Court.
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Another guard arrived at about 6 a.m. Sunday for a shift and called police to report that he found his female coworker unresponsive with clear signs of trauma, according to court documents. The woman had been beaten so severely she was unrecognizable. The attack was recorded by security cameras in the lobby of the building where the beating took place. The recording of the incident helped police identify Byrne as a suspect.
Described by police as 6 feet tall, Byrne was at the door of the building, when the 42-year-old, 5-foot-tall guard opened the door, likely to ask him to leave, according to the court documents. He barged past her. As the guard grabbed Byrne’s shirt to shop him, he took her to the ground and began to assault her for about 10 minutes.
He hit the woman with his fists, grabbed her braided hair and “dragged her around like a rag doll,” then used her own set of keys to stab her in the face. He then began to choke her, according to court documents.
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After leaving her body, Byrne entered a conference room and smashed out a window with a chair, according to the documents. He began to throw things, including furniture, and then left the building.
Instead of using the stairs, he then jumped or fell about 14 feet from a landing where a separate security camera showed him lying below on a concrete floor, possibly unconscious. Eventually, he got up and left.
Byrne was picked up by fire department personnel at about 2 a.m. Sunday, after receiving a call about a bloody man yelling for help in the area of the killing. He was taken to the hospital, where he told a witness that he had been stabbed, but no stab wounds were found on him.
Medical personnel told police that Byrne had a head injury and was possibly drunk, according to the documents. Byrne reported to a nurse that he’d been sexually assaulted, but he declined to explain further and did not allow doctors to perform a related exam.
Prior to the attack, Byrne had been drinking with friends in downtown Tacoma, according to court documents. Witnesses told police that Byrne was punched in the face during a bar fight and then ran in the direction of the office building where the killing occurred.
When interviewed by police at the hospital, Byrne denied recollection of the attack, according to court documents. He told police that he remembered drinking at a bar, then blacking out. He woke up and found himself in the hospital.
Byrne was charged with two counts of murder, two counts of kidnapping and one count of burglary, all in the first-degree, according to online court records. His next hearing is scheduled for Aug. 16.
Byrne entered the Army in March 2019 as an infantryman. He completed the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program in July 2020 and was subsequently assigned to Lewis-McChord, according to U.S. Special Operations Command. Byrne has no operational deployments.
“U.S. Army Special Operations Command, as well as the leadership at Joint Base Lewis-McChord are cooperating fully with the local law enforcement agencies in the ongoing investigation,” base officials said in a statement.
Byrne was booked into Pierce County Jail on Thursday with bond set at $2 million.
Judy Summers says
Lock his sorry butt up for ever !!!
Kadesh says
I’d like to know what the plan is to redress the many issues we have seen out of JBLM soldiers lately. Obviously something is off in the training and people who worked with these men knew how they were and did nothing. I have lived in countries we occupy and never felt unsafe, meanwhile I never feel safe here around JBLM. I wonder who is protecting America.