Robert Bales
Robert Bales | |
|---|---|
Bales in March 2012 | |
| Born | June 30, 1973 |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Ohio State University |
| Occupation | Former U.S. Army soldier |
| Known for | Kandahar massacre |
| Criminal status | Incarcerated |
| Spouse | Karilyn Bales |
| Children | 2 |
| Convictions |
|
| Criminal penalty | Life imprisonment without parole |
| Details | |
| Date | March 11, 2012 03:00 AFT |
| Locations | Balandi and Alkozai villages of Afghanistan |
| Target | Afghan civilians |
| Killed | 16 |
| Injured | 6 |
| Weapons | M4 carbine and M9 sidearm; some victims were found with both gunshot and stab wounds. |
| Imprisoned at | United States Disciplinary Barracks |
Robert Bales (born June 30, 1973) is an American mass murderer, convicted war criminal, and former U.S. Army sniper who murdered 16 Afghan civilians in a mass shooting in Panjwayi District, Kandahar Province, Afghanistan, on March 11, 2012 – an event known as the Kandahar massacre.
In order to avoid a possible death sentence, Bales pleaded guilty to 16 counts of murder, six counts of attempted murder, and seven counts of assault in a plea deal. On August 23, 2013, he was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Before sentencing, Bales expressed his regret by referring to the murders as "an act of cowardice". While Bales has exhausted all military appeals, his attorney announced in 2019 that he would be seeking a new trial in civilian court due to possible side effects of mefloquine, an anti-malaria drug that Bales claims to have been taking at the time of the shooting.