A U.S. Navy sailor is suspected of stabbing a Japanese woman to death and then killing himself in an Okinawa apartment.
Both are believed to have died from stab wounds in what authorities believe was a murder-suicide carried out by the male sailor, CNN reported. The woman’s child was also reportedly found unharmed at the apartment and is now in government custody.
The names of the individuals have not been released, but authorities said the sailor was part of the U.S. 3rd Marine Division, which has a base on the Japanese island.
The sailor, 31, and the woman, in her 40s, were believed to have been in a relationship, according to Stars and Stripes. The woman’s child was present during the incident and phoned a relative for help. The relative alerted police at 7:26 a.m.
The Marine Corps said it is cooperating with police as they conduct the investigation. “This is an absolute tragedy and we are fully committed to supporting the investigation into the incident,” the III Marine Expeditionary Force said in a statement. “More information will be forthcoming as the investigation progresses.”
Japan’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Take Akiba told NBC News on Saturday that he “lodged a strong complaint” with U.S. Ambassador William Hagerty, and has requested support for the investigation. Hagerty “expressed his deep regret” for what happened.
