Army Soldier Kills Wife, New York Trooper: Authorities

THERESA, NY — An Army soldier was charged with killing his wife a state trooper Sunday night at the couple's rural upstate property in Theresa, near the Canadian border, authorities said Monday.

Staff Sgt. Justin Walters surrendered after the slayings and was charged with two counts of murder, authorities said. A second woman living on the property was also shot. She is expected to survive her injuries, police said.

Trooper Joel Davis, 36, was shot as he approached the home while responding to the report of gunfire at about 8 p.m., said George P. Beach II, superintendent of the New York state police. (For more Across New York news, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

New York State Police Superintendent George P. Beach II is saddened to announce the death of Trooper Joel R.... https://t.co/1meV79vDzR
— NewYorkStatePolice (@nyspolice) July 10, 2017

Walters' wife, Nichole Walters, 27, was found dead at the scene. Police haven't said how she was slain.

State police said Justin Walters, 32, was stationed at nearby Fort Drum, home of the 10th Mountain Division. Fort Drum officials said Walters, of Zeeland, Michigan, was a combat veteran who has served at the post since joining the Army in 2007. He did one-year tours in Afghanistan with the 10th Mountain Division's 1st Brigade in January 2009 and again in March 2011.

WWNY-TV in Watertown reported Justin Walters was clad only in shorts when he was brought to a town court early Monday to be charged with first-degree murder in Davis' slaying and second-degree murder in Nichole Walters' death. He was ordered held in the Jefferson County Jail without bail. Walters didn't have a lawyer at the arraignment.

When the judge asked Walters if he knew why he was in court, Walters responded that he didn't know, the station reported.

State police said Davis, of Evans Mills, graduated from the Basic School of the New York State Police Academy in May 2013. He originally was assigned to the Troop D Watertown barracks before receiving his current assignment at the state police barracks in Philadelphia, New York, just outside Fort Drum.

Davis previously worked for the county sheriff's office as a road patrol deputy. His brother, Josh Davis, is a police officer in Watertown, WWNY reported.

A police motorcade is taking Trooper Joel Davis's body from Samaritan Medical Center in Watertown to Syracuse. @7NewsFox28 pic.twitter.com/UblvcvXBNP
— Chris Spiker (@ChrisSpikerTV) July 10, 2017

Joel Davis is survived by his wife and three children.

In a statement Monday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said "the entire New York family grieves" for Davis.

"Trooper Davis served as a member of the New York State Police for four years and his death is yet another sad reminder of the risks law enforcement officers face each day in order to protect our communities and serve the residents of this great state," the Democratic governor said while urging New Yorkers to keep Davis' family, friends and colleagues in their thoughts and prayers.

I have directed that flags on all state government buildings be flown at half-staff until Trooper Joel R. Davis has been laid to rest.
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) July 10, 2017

Jerry Mikels, a friend of Nichole Walters' from their mutual Syracuse-area hometown, said she was devoted to her toddler-aged son and was always willing to help people. Nichole met Justin Walters around the time she finished high school in Mattydale, Mikels said.

"She got along with everybody," he said. "If she knew you needed help, she would help out. She was there for my wife when she had cancer."

Photo credit: New York State Police via AP