Afghanistan

Combat Vet Charged in Killing of Wife, NY State Trooper

“The entire New York family grieves today for Trooper Joel Davis," said the governor

An Afghanistan combat veteran charged with killing his wife and a New York state trooper in the driveway of his home has been arraigned and ordered held without bail for grand jury action on Monday.

Justin Walters of Zeeland, Michigan was charged with second-degree murder for killing his 27-year-old wife, Nichole Walters. He was also charged for the first-degree murder of Trooper Joel Davis.

Walters, 32, first fatally shot his wife on Sunday outside their home in Theresa, in Jefferson County.

Trooper Joel Davis, 36, rushed to the scene just after 8 p.m. and was shot and killed as he approached the residence, State Police Superintendent George Beach II said. Nichole was found dead at the scene, Beach added.

Davis died about an hour later at a hospital. He leaves behind his wife and three children.

Walters surrendered to other state police troopers without further incident, police said. Beach described Walters as an “active duty Army infantryman who is stationed at Fort Drum.”

Defense Attorney Eric Swartz waived a preliminary hearing. He says the next appearance will be in Jefferson County Court later. He won’t comment further.

“The entire New York family grieves for Trooper Joel Davis, who was shot and killed in the line of duty Sunday night,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a statement Sunday night.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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