This is a followup to my earlier diary about a US soldier who committed suicide after a confrontation with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on Feb. 12 near Bridgewater, Nova Scotia.
The young man has been identified as Marine Lance Cpl. Timothy Scott. He was 22 years old and had served two tours in Iraq in 2007 and '08.
More over the border...
LCpl. Scott is described in local media as a "much-decorated U.S. marine". It appears that he was estranged from his mother, who lived in Nova Scotia. Additional info here.
Lance-Cpl. Timothy Scott, 22, from Norfolk, Va., was found dead in Upper Branch after threatening his mother Thursday afternoon.
An autopsy has confirmed that Scott died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The RCMP also said the 9-mm handgun found at the scene had been stolen from the home of Scott's father in Norfolk sometime on Tuesday.
Canadian officials had been tipped off that Cpl. Scott was dangerous/suicidal...
On Thursday afternoon, police were sent to Ms. Scott’s residence after being tipped off that her son was planning to kill her. Officers were concerned about his mental well-being as the U.S. military had warned them that they felt he was suicidal.
and yet somehow he was able to cross the US/Canadian border with a stolen handgun:
On Wednesday at 3:15 a.m., Lance Cpl. Scott entered Canada through Woodstock, N.B., in a 2003 black four-door Saturn Ion with North Carolina plates. Police said he had the gun with him.
This is a sad, sad story, but I have to admit my frustration with the US military in failing to provide support for a man who they admit was suicidal, and with Canadian Border Services in failing to find a stolen handgun crossing the border.