Japanese police arrested Lance Cpl. Devin Jacob Ballard, 20, on suspicion of killing Anna Yagi, 39, at a hotel in Naha and taking her belongings. He has denied the allegations. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Japan protested to the United States.
Japanese police have arrested a US Marine on suspicion of killing a woman at a hotel in Naha, the capital of Okinawa prefecture. The Guardian, citing police and NBC News, identified the suspect as Lance Cpl. Devin Jacob Ballard, 20, and the woman as Anna Yagi, 39. Police said he denied the allegations.
Investigators allege Yagi was killed at the hotel early on Saturday and that her wallet and backpack were taken. NHK, cited by the Guardian, reported that CCTV showed a foreign man entering a room with a woman and later leaving with her belongings. Police then located a 20-year-old man matching that description.
The Marine Corps said Ballard is assigned to the III Marine Expeditionary Force and based at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. The case is at the suspicion stage. No court filing or indictment was described in the reports used here.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Japan had lodged a protest with US authorities and called the crime exceptionally brutal. The government asked the United States for maximum cooperation with the investigation, stricter discipline among US personnel and measures to prevent a recurrence.
Crimes by US personnel have long driven protests on Okinawa, where a large share of American forces in Japan are based. Local officials have not yet published a separate statement beyond the national protest described by the prime minister.
People Sentiments Negative
- Takaichi called the alleged crime exceptionally brutal and said Japan protested to the United States
- Police said the suspect denied the allegations
- Past crimes by US personnel have drawn protests on Okinawa