On 30 May 2024, at a general court-martial convened at Fort Bliss, TX, SGT Justin E. Cope, U.S. Army, was convicted by a military judge, pursuant to his pleas, of one specification of murder and two specifications of assault consummated by a battery in violation of Articles 118 and 128, UCMJ. The military judge sentenced the accused to be reduced to the grade of E-1, to be confined for 17 years and to be discharged from the service with a dishonorable discharge. The sentence was consistent with the terms of a plea agreement.
