Ex-Marine claims unit shot civilians

PARIS – A former U.S. Marine in Iraq alleges that his battalion committed atrocities against Iraqi civilians during the U.S.-led invasion in 2003, including shooting unarmed protesters.

Jimmy Massey, a staff sergeant who was in the Marines for 12 years and served three months in Iraq before being honorably discharged with post-traumatic stress syndrome, details the allegations in his book “Kill! Kill! Kill!”

A Pentagon spokeswoman said Massey’s complaints had been investigated and found to be unsubstantiated.

Massey said he was in charge of a platoon in the 3rd Batallion of Regimental Combat Team 7, responsible for setting up checkpoints and providing armed cover against terrorists and insurgents. He alleges that his platoon killed more than 30 civilians in Iraq. “We in fact, I feel, escalated the violence,” he said in an interview.