Army officer slain in another Fort Bragg homicide

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (AP) -- The wife of an Army Special Operations officer has been charged in his shooting death, the latest in a string of domestic violence incidents that have shaken Fort Bragg.

Joan Shannon, 35, was charged Tuesday with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the July 23 fatal shooting of Maj. David Shannon, 40.

"We believe financial gain is one of the primary motives of the crime," said police Lt. Tom Guilette. He did not elaborate.

Shannon's slaying is the fifth domestic-related slaying linked to the base since June 11. Four Fort Bragg wives have been killed, allegedly by their husbands, and Fort Bragg officials say they are looking at the cases to determine if the stress of military life was a contributing factor.

David Shannon had served in the Army since 1987 and was assigned to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command.