The Evening Star (June 24, 1946)
Solution of 2 Yanks’ shooting near in U.S.-Russian probe
VIENNA (AP) – Russian and American investigators, working in close cooperation, were near to a solution today of the shooting of two American military policemen Saturday night.
The Americans, both recovering in an Army hospital, were shot when they attempted to stop a stolen American jeep in which three Russian soldiers were riding.
Russian police and investigators have worked with the American provost marshal on the case from the beginning. Russian judge advocates participated in the questioning of suspects. A number of Russians were still under questioning today and one of the occupants of the stolen jeep was in custody.
A Russian lieutenant was shot while resisting arrest by American military policemen ordered to pick up suspects in the case. He was in serious condition with a bullet wound in the stomach.
The two Americans were shot at close range. One of them suffered from powder burns around his eyes. They were shot when they pulled their jeep beside the stolen jeep. A Russian reached out and fired at close range, hitting both soldiers in the face.
American officers praised Russian cooperation in investigating the case. The Russians have given assurances that all the men involved in the shooting would be found and that they would be turned over to American authorities.
The names of the two wounded Americans were withheld pending notification of their families.