A U.S. veteran who returned to Iraq as a civilian contractor protecting American diplomats was killed by a sniper, his mother said.
Justin Pope, 25, died after being shot Wednesday, Patricia Salser told The Associated Press on Saturday. He worked for Falls Church, Va.-based DynCorp International, which did not answer messages seeking comment.
Detroit-area television station WJBK said Pope served two military tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan and that as a civilian was assigned to protect U.S. diplomats in Kirkuk. DynCorp is one of three U.S.-based security contractors that work for the State Department in Iraq.
Salser said her son joined the Marines after graduating from Riverview High School in 2002. Survivors include his wife and a 7-year-old son.
The AP has reported 1,264 civilian employees of U.S. government contractors died through Sept. 30, 2008, the latest figures available. The vast majority of civilian contractors in Iraq are employed by the Pentagon.
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