'Highly regarded': Army soldier charged with murdering fellow soldier at California home
A U.S. Army soldier has been charged with murder in connection to the killing of another soldier last month at Fort Irwin National Training Center in Southern California.
The soldier, Spc. George Cornejo, 26, stands accused in the Oct. 28 slaying of Spc. Andrew P. Smith, the U.S. Army told Paste BN Monday.
The U.S. Army Office of Special Trial Council charged Cornejo with murder on Nov. 20, the Army reported.
Cornejo, who is from Fontana, a city in San Bernardino County, is assigned to the 11th Armored Calvary Regiment where he serves as a construction equipment repairer, according to the Army.
Smith, 20, was found injured at his home at the National Training Center in San Bernardino County by Fort Irwin Military Police.
He was transported to a local hospital where he died, officials reported. The Army did not specify how Smith died or whether both men knew one another.
His official cause of death remained under investigation Monday, pending official autopsy results.
The training center where Smith lived is in the Mojave Desert in Southern California, about 120 miles northeast of Los Angeles.
George Cornejo ordered into custody day after Smith found injured
On Oct, 29, the day after Smith was found injured, Cornejo was taken into custody and ordered into pretrial confinement.
Officials said Cornejo was transferred to the Naval Consolidated Brig in Miramar, California where he awaits a preliminary hearing.
As of Monday, that court date had not been announced and it was not immediately known if Cornejo had obtained an attorney.
Victim Spc. Andrew P. Smith worked as a utilities equipment preparer
Smith joined the Army in August 2021 and was a native of Rye, New York. He was assigned to Fort Irwin in March 2022 where he served as a utilities equipment preparer with the 11th Armored Calvary Regiment.
'Loved by many and highly regarded'
Fort Irwin posted the news of his death on social media on Oct. 31. At the time, officials reported his death was under investigation.
"Spc. Smith was loved by many and highly regarded amongst the team," said Kevin Black, Commander of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. "As we mourn the loss of our teammate, our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and fellow troopers."
The case remained open and active Monday with the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division.
No further details were provided by officials.
'Fiercely loyal' soldier leaves behind wife, unborn son
According to his obituary, Smith was fiercely loyal, and was always there to lend an ear and a helping hand to anyone in a time of need.
An Avid sports fan, he loved the Giants and the Yankees and playing basketball with friends, the his family wrote in obituary.
"He was proud to be a husband, and even more so excited to become a father," it continues. "He was eagerly awaiting the arrival of his son, Luca in January."
Smith leaves behind his wife, Erika and their unborn son, his mother Christine Santillan, his father, William Smith, and his sister Lauren Smith.
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for Paste BN. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.