A US sailor stationed in Okinawa was found dead next to a local woman after an apparent murder-suicide, Japanese officials reported. The small southern island hosts roughly half of all American troops in Japan.
The US man, who was not immediately identified, was attached to III Marine Division, Stars and Stripes reported citing a military spokesman. The body of the 31-year-old was discovered on Saturday next to that of a woman in her 40s. The two were reportedly in a relationship, which ended with the sailor stabbing the woman to death before taking his own life.
The Japanese police reportedly found the dead pair in a six-story apartment building in the Kuwae district of Chatan, a town on the western coast of Okinawa. The police said the woman’s child witnessed the incident when it happened in the early morning and called a relative, who in turn notified law enforcement.
“We are aware of an incident resulting in the death of an apparent US Navy sailor with III Marine Division and a resident of Okinawa,” the spokesman, First Lt. David Mancilla said. “This is an absolute tragedy and we are fully committed to supporting the investigation into the incident.”
The incident was discussed by Japan’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Takeo Akiba and US Ambassador William Hagerty during a phone call, the Japanese foreign ministry said as cited by Associated Press.