US serviceman, Japanese woman found dead at Okinawa flat
- The US Navy member was believed to be in a relationship with the 44-year-old woman
The police received an emergency call at around 7:25am and found the two lying on a bed at the woman’s flat in the town of Chatan. Their deaths were confirmed later at the scene.
US military sources said the man may have killed the woman and then committed suicide. They both had stab wounds.
Okinawa votes ‘no’ in referendum on US military base move
A US Marine Corps official in Okinawa told Kyodo News the man is believed to be a member of the US Marine Corps’ 3rd Marine Division headquartered in the prefecture, and promised to fully support prefectural police in their investigation.
US Ambassador to Japan William Hagerty expressed his deep regret over the incident during a phone call with Japan’s Vice Foreign Minister Takeo Akiba. The two agreed to cooperate in the investigation, according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry.
Okinawa hosts the bulk of US military facilities in Japan. Local residents have long been frustrated with noise, accidents and crimes linked to the US bases.
