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The (Tacoma, Wash.) News Tribune (TNS)
Published: February 23, 2015
(Tribune Content Agency) — A Joint Base Lewis-McChord Stryker infantryman who allegedly stabbed another soldier to death on a Lakewood, Wash., street in October 2013 will face a military court-martial in April, the Army announced Monday.
Pvt. Jeremiah Hill, 24, faces life in prison if he’s convicted of premeditated murder in the death of Spc. Tevin Geike, 20.
Hill appeared in court at JBLM in January for a pretrial hearing that was intended to determine whether the Army had enough evidence to prosecute him.
This month, JBLM 7th Infantry Division Commander Maj. Gen. Terry Ferrell reviewed the case and decided the evidence was sufficient to proceed with a full court-martial. Hill also faces charges of manslaughter and a secondary murder offense.
Geike was walking on Pacific Highway in Lakewood with two friends in the early hours of Oct. 5, 2013 when they were confronted by Hill and four others in a car, according to testimony at Hill’s pretrial hearing.
The two groups reportedly prepared to fight but broke up when they realized all of them were soldiers. Hill then allegedly grabbed Geike and stabbed him in the chest.
Pierce County had been prosecuting Hill in civilian court but turned the case over to the Army in December.
Hill joined the Army six months before the stabbing and was serving in JBLM’s 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division. Geike served in JBLM’s 16th Combat Aviation Brigade and reportedly was preparing to separate from the Army.
©2015 The (Tacoma, Wash.) News Tribune. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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