COLORADO SPRINGS — A Fort Carson soldier is accused of killing a 2-year-old during an incident in early November, Fort Carson officials revealed this week.
Pfc. James A. Price, the toddler’s uncle, was charged Jan. 24 with murder in connection with the death, according to a charge sheet. He was assigned to the Warrior Transition Battalion at Fort Carson and was scheduled to appear for a hearing in the case this month.
Lt. Col. Steve Wollman, a Fort Carson spokesman, declined to say why the post did not previously release details about the death.
“No response,” Wollman wrote in an e-mail to The Gazette on Thursday.
Wollman said the Army is not required to notify the public of homicide cases.
Wollman declined to release the name of the toddler. He also did not release the date that the toddler died.
The charges stem from an incident that happened Nov. 5, 2011, at Fort Carson, Wollman said. The child died of blunt-force trauma to the head.
The case against Price will be aired at a May 15 evidence hearing. After that hearing, an officer will issue an recommendation on whether the case should proceed to court-martial.
Fort Carson’s commander, Maj. Gen. Joe Anderson, will make the final decision on whether price will face court-martial.
If convicted in the killing, Price would face a maximum penalty of life behind bars.
Price served in the Colorado National Guard from October 2008 through February 2010, according to Army Human Resources Command.
He trained for four months in Fort Lee, Va., before arriving at Fort Carson as a food service specialist.
He never saw combat during his time with the Army.
Price was not arrested in connection with the death, Wollman said, and he is not being jailed.
He was charged Jan. 24, the same day that another Fort Carson soldier was charged with murder in a separate case.
Sgt. Vincinte Jackson is suspected of killing Spec. Brandy Fonteneaux sometime between Jan. 6 and Jan. 8. Jackson also is slated to appear for a court hearing this month.
