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| Andover Marine admits he shot himself |
| 2003-08-21 |
| Coon Rapids, MN--A Marine who told Anoka County authorities that he was shot while trying to help a stranded motorist has admitted that he shot himself, a sheriff’s spokesman said Wednesday. Adam D. Welter, 20, of Andover was released Monday night from Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids, where he was treated for a wound to his left shoulder. Welter reported that he was shot early Monday after he stopped in the 14800 block of Prairie Rd. to help a man whose black, rusted pickup truck was disabled. Investigators searched and found no evidence of a shooting. I’m betting the powder burns, angle of the wound, etc. clued the sheriff in real quick. Welter, an Anoka High School graduate, was home on leave and had been scheduled to return to active duty on Monday. He called the Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday afternoon and admitted making up the shooting story, said sheriff’s Capt. Bob Aldrich. "I think he felt bad and wanted to tell the truth," Aldrich said. "He was trying to do the right thing. . . . He was awfully apologetic." Welter was apparently despondent about an impending long-term overseas military assignment, according to investigators. Welter had been in training for about a year to intercept and decode radio messages, and he was to be stationed in Hawaii, said Valerie Welter, his mother. Attempts to contact Welter on Wednesday were unsuccessful. He was despondent about going to ... Hawaii??? The case will be forwarded to the county attorney’s office where possible charges for giving false information to deputies will be considered, Aldrich said. He would not say where Welter got the gun he used but said it will be returned to its owner. After the county attorney gets done with him, I think the JAG office will be calling. |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #10 Welcome back, Stevey! How was Fat Camp? |
| Posted by: tu3031 2003-8-21 2:36:11 PM |
| #9 Some people have a hard time putting aside 'childish things' and growing up. This young man sounds like one of them. He also may be having a hard time adjusting to the security restraints placed upon him by his job. Life on the "dark side of the Force" isn't an easy walk for anyone. Working with classified information on a daily basis requires 'strong moral character'. I think he's been able to eliminate himself from the job the Marines picked out for him. I don't think he'll much care for where the Marines dump him after this exercise, though - in a rifle platoon, if they don't kick him out altogether. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2003-8-21 12:19:42 PM |
| #8 Hawaii's got snow. |
| Posted by: Pete Stanley 2003-8-21 11:32:02 AM |
| #7 OK, just reading the story it sounds like this guy is a first termer, just finished tech school, getting shipped away from home, and he didn't want to leave. (I know, most people would be happy to shoot someone in order to get an assignment to Hawaii) You always get a few of these types who just can't adapt to military life. Most likely he'll get a quick discharge. |
| Posted by: Steve 2003-8-21 9:40:44 AM |
| #6 Being a male, he was unable to get pregnant to miss deployment. Drastic measures were required. |
| Posted by: Steve D 2003-8-21 9:38:54 AM |
| #5 Not exactly a hardship tour Hey, he's from Minnesota -- all he knows is that Hawaii and Iraq are both hot, and lack snow... |
| Posted by: snellenr 2003-8-21 8:42:52 AM |
| #4 His dream of working in a call center is certainly over. Sad. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2003-8-21 7:49:00 AM |
| #3 Do this be our Stevey Boy,sounds like it.The guy was going to Hawaiinot Exactly a hardship toir. |
| Posted by: raptor 2003-8-21 7:08:25 AM |
| #2 steveerossa is his nomme de guerra, like Abu Mazen. Abu Robinson, it has a nice ring to it. |
| Posted by: Brian 2003-8-21 2:27:20 AM |
| #1 he probably shot himself to avoid being shot at in the sunni triangle where his ass was obviously |
| Posted by: steveerossa 2003-8-21 1:54:15 AM |