Soldiers, friends: One shot, one charged with murder

The alleged shooting death of one paratrooper by another Saturday night stunned neighbors who said the two men were close.

Posted 8:57 p.m. Mar 21, 2016 — Updated 10:36 p.m. Mar 21, 2016

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — The alleged shooting death of one paratrooper by another Saturday night stunned neighbors who said the two men were close.

Ryan Daniel Walker, 24, and Myles David Penix, 27, were members of the 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade at Fort Bragg and were friends in the unit and on social media.

Both were at a party at Penix's house and the one next door Saturday in the Lands End complex off Morganton Road.

On Monday, Walker faced a Cumberland County judge, charged with the murder of his friend.

Just before midnight on Saturday, police were called to the scene of what was described as an accidental shooting.

"When officers arrived on scene, the victim was discovered on the floor of the living room with a single gunshot wound to the chest," police investigator Laura Downing told the court.

The investigation quickly identified Walker as the suspected shooter.

"There was some alcohol involved during these parties that may have played a factor into this," Downing said. "We're still looking into that."

Neighbor Tammi Scarborough said Penix had a wife and young child.

"We always speak," she said. "I've seen him and his wife and the baby."

Penix was originally from California and had served in the Navy before joining the Army, according to a statement released after his death.

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