** Former US Army medic from Spokane, Washington wounded in shoot-out with police;in critical condition in hospital
** Canadian government disappointed with Edmonton judge’s decision to release convicted killer of US combat medic
UNITED STATES NEWS
** Washington police in Spokane say a man who fired on police Wednesday and was then himself shot was a former US Army combat medic. That is the word from the Associated Press (May 8) which said Craig S. Burton, 25, was also employed at the VA Medical Center. According to the news service, Burton’s family hailed law enforcement after he appeared potentially suicidal. Retreating to the back yard once police arrived, he allegedly challenged them to shoot him several times before he fired his weapon at the officers. Burton was wounded in the exchange and remains in critical condition in hospital.
CANADA NEWS
** A spokesman for the Canadian government has expressed disappointment over the release on bail of the convicted killer of a US Delta Force medic. The CBC (May 7) quoted Public Safety Minister Steven Blaney as saying the federal government feels the feelings of the victims of Omar Khadr were not considered when an Edmonton judge decided to release him last week. According to the news site, Blaney said the Harper administration continues to support convicted terrorists serving out their full terms. Khadr pleaded guilty in a US court to lobbing the grenade that killed Sgt. Christopher Speer in Afghanistan in July 2002. He is currently appealing his war crimes convictions.
