Slain Marine in Texas tied to wife’s fatal stabbing

LUBBOCK, Texas - A Marine killed after going on a shooting rampage that left one person dead and several hospitalized in Texas also is suspected of fatally stabbing his wife, whose body was found in a North Carolina motel room hours after the shootings, police said Tuesday.

Rubi Estefania Smith of Bakersfield, Calif., was found dead Sunday afternoon in a motel room near Camp Lejeune, Jacksonville, N.C., police said in a news release. She was the wife of Lance Cpl.

Esteban J. Smith, a 23-year-old Marine who died Sunday in a gunfight with Texas authorities.

Police spokesman Beth Purcell said Rubi Estefania Smith appears to have died from a knife wound.

A veteran of two combat tours in Afghanistan, Esteban Smith is suspected in a west Texas shooting rampage that left one woman dead and five others wounded. An assault rifle, handgun and hundreds of rounds of ammunition were found in Smith’s vehicle.

Smith, who was also from Bakersfield, was stationed with the 2nd Marine Division at Camp Lejeune. Base spokesman Master Sgt. Jonathan Cress said investigators have determined that the firearms used in the shootings were not issued by the military.

Marine Corps spokesman Capt. Maureen Krebs said Smith enlisted in November 2008. He returned from his second tour as an infantry rifleman in Afghanistan in November 2012. He was awarded several decorations, including a Combat Action Ribbon and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Krebs said.

Front Section, Pages 3 on 05/29/2013

Upcoming Events