Marine Lance Corporal Dies After Stabbing in Base Housing at Camp Lejeune

Military.com | By Gina Harkins

Published June 18, 2020

A second man involved in a shooting-stabbing incident this weekend at a North Carolina Marine Corps base has died.

Lance Cpl. William J. Luce, an infantry rifleman with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines, died on Monday, officials with his command said on Thursday.

Luce was listed in stable condition earlier that day after being transported to Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune early Saturday morning after suffering multiple stab wounds. He developed complications and succumbed to his injuries.

Col. John Rochford, 8th Marine Regiment's commanding officer, called Luce a valued member of his unit.

"The 8th Marine Regiment family is saddened by the loss of one of our own in Lance Cpl. William Luce," Rochfordsaid in a statement. "... Our Marines and Sailors will never forget his memory. We extend our sincerest sympathies and support to his family during this difficult time."

Luce was stabbed in a house aboard Camp Lejeune. A male spouse of an active-duty Marine also died in the incident. Officials said that person, whose identity has not been released, suffered from an apparent gunshot wound.

The Naval Criminal Investigative Service is leading a probe into the matter. The agency has not responded to questions from Military.com about the nature of the relationship between Luce and the Marine spouse. It's also unclear if anyone else was present at the time of the shooting and stabbing.

Luce enlisted in the Marine Corps in October 2015, according to his service records. He graduated from Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in South Carolina in January 2016 before completing School of Infantry-East in April of that year.

The infantryman served with Marine Corps Security Force Battalion in Bangor, Washington, before reporting to 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines. His personal awards include the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and National Defense Medal.

-- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins.

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Related Topics: Military Headlines Marine Corps Topics Crime Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune

Gina Harkins

Gina Harkins previously covered the Marine Corps, Navy and Coast Guard for Military.com. She has covered troops and their families for nearly a decade, reporting from the U.S., Central and South America, and at sea. Before joining Military.com, Gina was a longtime reporter and managing editor for the independent Marine Corps Times. Her story on two recruits trapped at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island in South Carolina was runner up for the 2013 Military Reporters and Editors award for domestic military coverage. She holds a master’s degree from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and studied political science and international relations in her undergrad at Northeastern Illinois University. Read Full Bio

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