A U.S. Marine Corps facility sign in Nago, Okinawa, Japan (Photo by Koichi Kamoshida/Getty Images)
A U.S. Marine has been accused of killing a woman in a hotel in Japan, then taking her wallet and backpack, according to Japanese police.
The murder happened in Okinawa, where thousands of Marines are stationed, and sparked immediate condemnation and protests from Japanese officials.
Who is Devin Jacob Ballard?
What we know:
According to Reuters, the Marine has been identified as 20-year-old Lance Cpl. Devin Jacob Ballard, who’s based at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma and assigned to the III Marine Expeditionary Force.
He’s accused of killing 39-year-old Anna Yagi in a hotel in Naha, the capital of Japan’s southernmost prefecture. As of Sunday, he was in Japanese custody, the Marine Corps confirmed to Reuters.
What does the Marine Corps say?
What they're saying:
In a statement to Reuters, the US embassy and the Marine Corps said they are cooperating with the Japanese authorities.
"The Marine Corps takes these allegations very seriously and expects every Marine to adhere to the highest standards of behavior," the statement continued.
Japan’s government files protest with US
The other side:
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi registered a protest with the U.S. in response to the killing.
"The occurrence of such an extremely brutal and vicious incident is extremely regrettable," Takaichi said in a statement.
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"The government of Japan strongly protests to the US side and strongly seeks maximum cooperation with the investigation," she said.
US has complicated presence in Okinawa
By the numbers:
There are roughly 18,000 Marines stationed in Japan, and most of them are based in Okinawa.
Dig deeper:
Reuters reports that residents there have clashed with the U.S. military over issues like noise, plane crashes and the behavior of soldiers stationed there.
In 1995, three U.S. military members were accused of raping a 12-year-old girl in Okinawa, which sparked widespread protests.
Okinawa is seen as a critical presence for deterring potential aggression from China, particularly because of its close proximity to Taiwan.
The Source: This report includes information from Reuters.