A former U.S. Army Sergeant killed a fellow soldier in his barracks room. Now, he will remain behind bars for life.
U.S. District Court Judge R. Stan Baker sentenced Byron Booker, 29, to life in federal prison for the stabbing death of a U.S. Army Specialist, Austin J. Hawk, 21. Booker pleaded guilty to premeditated murder. In addition, Baker ordered Booker to pay a $2,500 fine.
On June 18, 2020, authorities found Hawk’s body in his Fort Stewart barracks room. According to prosecutors, Booker was approached by his co-defendant Jordan Brown, 21, to lament his woes. He told Booker he was being kicked out of the Army due to Hawk reporting him to his superiors about his marijuana usage. The report stemmed from Hawk’s obligation to his duties and Army regulations after he was promoted to squad leader, reported FOX5.
Hence, in an effort to silence Hawk, both men decided to break into the victim’s room shortly after midnight before stabbing him forty times and slashing his throat.
“Byron Booker squandered his own military career by illegally using drugs, and then murdered a former fellow soldier in cold blood in retaliation for that soldier honorably performing his duties. The sentence of life in prison with no parole will serve a measure of justice for Austin Hawk’s family, while affirming the outstanding investigative work that led to Booker’s conviction,” said U.S. Attorney Estes, who is also a retired U.S. Army Colonel, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Meanwhile, Brown also pleaded guilty to retaliation against a witness involving bodily injury and assault upon a U.S. servicemember involving bodily injury or a deadly weapon.
He is currently awaiting sentencing.
There is no parole in the federal system.
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