Fort Lewis Soldier Held in Murder of 16 Afghans

A U.S. soldier allegedly went on a shooting spree in the Kandahar province of Afghanistan Sunday, killing 16 Afghan civilians, including women and children, according to a CBS News report.

The soldier's name has not been released. According to CBS News, he is an NCO in a Stryker Brigade based out of Fort Lewis, Wash.

Afghan president Hamid Karzai said of the 16 Afghan civilians killed, nine were children and three were women. Another five civilians were wounded.

"This is an assassination, an intentional killing of innocent civilians and cannot be forgiven," Karzai said in a statement.

The attack took place at around 3 a.m. in two villages in the Panjwai district of Kandahar province. According to eyewitness reports cited by CBS, the soldier began entering Afghan homes and opening fire on the civilians within. After the shootings, the soldier allegedly returned to base on his own and turned himself in, according to ABC News.

Gen. John R. Allen, commander of the International Security Assistance Force, pledged to conduct a "rapid and thorough" investigation of the attack. He said that the U.S. military would maintain custody of the accused soldier, but that U.S. forces would cooperate fully with local Afghan authorities during the investigation.

President Barack Obama said in a statement that the killings were "tragic and shocking."

"I offer my condolences to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives, and to the people of Afghanistan, who have endured too much violence and suffering," Obama said. He also insisted that the incident "does not represent the exceptional character of our military and the respect that the United States has for the people of Afghanistan," according to the CBS report.