Ex-US Marine Behind Acid Attack on Latino Man
A military record-keeping agency has confirmed the military service of a white Milwaukee man suspected of throwing acid on a Latino man.
The National Personnel Records Center confirmed Clifton Blackwell’s service in the Marines from 1975 to 1978 in response to a request from The Associated Press.
The 61-year-old Blackwell is charged with first-degree reckless injury as a hate crime in the Nov. 1 attack.
The victim, Mahmud Villalaz, said Blackwell confronted him and asked, “Why did you invade my country?”
Villalaz is a U.S. citizen who immigrated from Peru.
US: 61-year-old arrested in #acidattack on Latino man https://t.co/9NfgjvvHlr pic.twitter.com/wQgKmUxBAQ
— ANADOLU AGENCY (ENG) (@anadoluagency) November 4, 2019
Blackwell’s mother, Jacqueline Blackwell, had noted her son’s military service in telling the Journal Sentinel that her son had sought treatment for post-traumatic stress.
Veterans Administration officials declined to discuss any treatment of Blackwell, citing privacy.
Investigative researcher Randy Herschaft in New York contributed to this report.
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