8 US soldiers, including one from Youngstown, charged in comrade's death

NEW YORK (AP) — Eight U.S. soldiers, including one from Youngstown, have been charged in the death of a fellow GI, a Chinese-American who apparently shot himself in Afghanistan after being subjected to what a community activist said were assaults and ethnic taunts from his comrades.

Pvt. Danny Chen, a 19-year-old from New York's Chinatown neighborhood, was found in a guard tower in Kandahar province Oct. 3 with what the Army said appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

In a statement, the Army said today that eight soldiers in his company were charged with crimes ranging from dereliction of duty to negligent homicide and manslaughter.

Military officials gave no details on exactly what role the soldiers are alleged to have played in Chen's death. But a community activist raised the possibility that their bullying drove him to suicide.

Among those charged is Sgt. Adam M. Holcomb of Youngstown.