Military panel convicts man of attempted murder

A former Russellville man was convicted of attempted murder on Friday by a military jury at the Charleston Air Force Base in Charleston, S.C.

Along with the attempted murder charge, Dustin Andrew Miller, 21, 8850 Dorchester Road, North Charleston, S.C., was also convicted of aggravated assault with a dangerous weapon, aggravated assault inflicting bodily harm and assault with intent to commit murder.

Miller was a member of the Security Forces Military Police at the Charleston Air Force Base when he was arrested for shooting 31-year-old Eric Hines in the back outside Hines’ residence in the Mountain Star community.

Officials said that Miller was home from South Carolina for his grandmother’s funeral when the incident occurred.

Reports indicated that members of Miller’s family and Hines’ family had been involved in an argument.

According to testimony, Hines said that Miller had driven by his house several times before he walked to the road and he and Miller got into a confrontation. Hines said that after he became aware that Miller had a gun, he threw a small wrench at Miller’s vehicle and started to run away, which was when he was shot.

Miller’s testimony reflected that when he went to the victim’s house that day, he believed the wrench Hines threw at him was a knife and he fired his gun in self defense.

The sentencing phase of the trial was set to begin Friday afternoon and it is possible for Miller to receive up to life in prison for the attempted murder charge.

As of press time, a sentence had not been reached.