US Army Soldier Facing Accusations of First-Degree Murder

A 24-year-old US Army soldier stationed at Fort Wainwright is accused of executing another soldier in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Key Insights

Adayus Robertson allegedly shot fellow soldier Joseph Casas execution-style, with medical experts confirming a back-to-front gunshot wound to the head.
Robertson was on pretrial ankle monitoring for previous felony assault charges and had been released from house arrest just 15 days before the alleged shooting.
Evidence including GPS data, witness statements, and a recovered .40 caliber Glock linked to Robertson’s relative place him at the scene of the crime.
Robertson faces first-degree murder charges with bail set at $2.5 million, plus additional charges for evidence tampering and probation violation.

Execution-Style Killing on Base

The fatal shooting occurred just before 10 a.m. on Friday, April 11, at Fort Wainwright, home to the Army’s 11th Airborne Division. According to police reports, Joseph Casas was found with a gunshot wound to the head and was rushed to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Medical personnel who examined Casas noted the distinctive nature of the wound. The emergency room doctor’s assessment was particularly disturbing in its clinical clarity about what had occurred.

Multiple witnesses placed Robertson at the scene, with one female witness reporting that Robertson had left her in the bathroom moments before she heard a loud bang. After the alleged shooting, the witness stated Robertson exhibited suspicious behavior, collecting items from the table while commenting on how “messed up” the situation was before they departed the location.

Fort Wainwright Soldier Arrested on Murder Charges in Fairbanks Man's Death https://t.co/Aqa4YyIRmt

— Military.com (@Militarydotcom) April 15, 2025

Evidence Against Robertson

Investigators have compiled substantial evidence linking Robertson to the crime. GPS data from his ankle monitor revealed he was present at the shooting location during the critical timeframe. Additionally, a .40 caliber Glock pistol, which authorities connected to Robertson through a relative, was recovered from a trash bin near the shooting scene. Robertson was later found at the Big Dipper Ice Arena with a handgun magazine in his possession.

Another witness, a male who was present at the time of the shooting, provided a statement to police that Casas “didn’t deserve what happened to him” and agreed with investigators’ assessment that the shooting looked like an execution. These witness accounts, combined with the physical evidence, formed the basis for the murder charges against Robertson, who requested an attorney during police questioning.

History of Violence and Legal Troubles

At the time of the shooting, Robertson was already on pretrial ankle monitoring for a felony assault case in which he allegedly pistol-whipped a woman. He also faced an escape charge for previously leaving house arrest without authorization. Despite these serious charges, a judge had modified Robertson’s release conditions, ending his house arrest on April 1 – just 15 days before the fatal shooting.

The accused joined the Army relatively recently, with records showing he enlisted in 2023. Fort Wainwright was his first duty station, where he served as a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Specialist with the 11th Airborne Division. The military has not yet released a statement about Robertson’s future status with the armed forces in light of these charges.

Legal Consequences and Next Steps

Robertson now faces severe legal consequences, including charges of first-degree murder, evidence tampering, and probation violation related to his two prior cases. The court has set his bail at $2.5 million, a substantial increase from the $10,000 bail he previously posted for the assault charge. The high bail amount reflects both the severity of the current charges and Robertson’s history of violating release conditions.

The case has shocked the military community at Fort Wainwright and raised questions about the monitoring and supervision of service members with pending criminal charges. As the investigation continues, military officials will likely review policies regarding soldiers facing serious criminal allegations and how such situations are managed within the chain of command.