Army Inquiry into Why Troops Were Sent Into Alabama After Murders

The United States military has opened an inquiry into how and why active duty troops were sent onto the streets of Samson Alabama after the murder spree that left 11 people dead. At least 22 military police soldiers from the nearby Fort Rucker were sent into the city in the aftermath of the shooting.

The investigation will look into the purpose behind them being there, who had the authority to send them and what duties they performed while there. Sending troops into an American Town could be a violation of federal law.

A dispatcher with the Samson Police Department says the soldiers weren't there in a policing capacity, but merely to direct traffic and control the crime scene so it wouldn't be disturbed. Samson only has a five-man police department. He also says that no one from the Samson department called or requested for the troops to be there.

NowPublic staffer Amy Judd was covering the story as it broke on March 10, where it is believed that Michael McLendon killed his mother and five other relatives before heading to a nearby Big Little Store, where he opened fire.