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Regional Journalism

3 Wash. Soldiers Jailed Following Stabbing Death

Three Washington-based soldiers are in jail after the stabbing death of a fellow soldier over the weekend. The arrests came after the person who allegedly wielded the knife sought medical treatment for a cut to his hand.

Police say the murder happened off base following an exchange of words between two groups of Joint Base Lewis-McChord servicemen. A roadside confrontation seemed to end peacefully once everyone realized they were fellow soldiers.

But Lt. Chris Lawler with Lakewood Police said that as the groups were about to go their separate ways, one of the soldiers wrapped his arms around the man who was killed. "What looked like a bear hug, and stabbed this victim," Lawler said.

Lawler said the motive is unclear – although race does not appear to be a factor as police originally suspected.

The man accused of the murder joined the military this year and has not deployed. Police jailed two other soldiers who were there.

The victim has been identified as Spc. Tevin Geike of Summerville, S.C. He was assigned to a combat aviation brigade.

Since January 2004, Austin Jenkins has been the Olympia-based political reporter for the Northwest News Network. In that position, Austin covers Northwest politics and public policy, as well as the Washington State Legislature. You can also see Austin on television as host of TVW's (the C–SPAN of Washington State) Emmy-nominated public affairs program "Inside Olympia."