A Camp Pendleton Marine who prosecutors said used the claw end of a crowbar to beat his roommate to death in a barracks room last fall will be court-martialed for premeditated murder, military officials announced Thursday.
Lance Cpl. Mario Arias, 19, was found beaten to death at 1 a.m. on Nov. 3 in Camp Pendleton's Area 24 barracks, according to investigators.
Our media partners the North County Times reports Arias had nine head wounds, seven of them potentially fatal. Investigators believe the teenager was asleep when the attack started.
The suspect, Lance Cpl. Darren J. Evans, 19, was found outside the barracks after having jumped from a third floor balcony, according to Lt. Maureen Dooley, a spokesperson with MCAS Miramar.
Evans, an aircrew trainee part of Marine Light Attack Helicopter Training Squadron 303 based in Camp Pendleton, faces general court-martial for the murder along with other charges of assault, underage drinking and intentionally injuring himself.
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