Ex-Ranger gets 35 years in fellow Ranger's slaying

Wed Jul 16, 11:27 PM ET

ROCKVILLE, Md. - A former U.S. Army Ranger from Maryland has been sentenced to 35 years in prison in the shooting death of a fellow Ranger he served with in Afghanistan.
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Gary Smith was convicted in April of shooting 22-year-old Michael McQueen II in the apartment they shared in Gaithersburg. He was found guilty of second-degree murder — depraved heart.

Jurors rejected a defense claim that McQueen committed suicide in September 2006. Prosecutors didn't suggest a motive, but said Smith idolized McQueen and was upset when he planned to move out.

In sentencing the 25-year-old Smith Wednesday, Montgomery County Judge Eric M. Johnson criticized a lack of veterans programs. Smith, who also served in Iraq, was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Glad to see they nailed his ass for 35 years on this. PTSD isn't holding any water with me. If one is truely psychotic, there is plenty of help out there, all one has to do is check themselves into any hospital with the statement that they intend to hurt themselves or someone else. They then get placed on a 72 hour hold in a lockdown unit and get an indepth psych evaluation. If the intent is real, they keep them in lockdown and commence treatments. If a bed isn't available, they ship them to a location where one is. I oughta know, I have a son who I have had to force commit once or twice a year for the last 18 years.

PTSD is not a valid excuse but it seems to be the norm for every crime involving any military member, seems to be the golden bullet or the easy out for killing someone, shame he did not get the needle.