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 English (@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.