Fellow Marine killed local serviceman Holter's killer is serving 15-month sentence in prison
Recently obtained information in the shooting death a year ago of Cpl. Paul C. Holter III, a Corpus Christi native, shows that he was shot by a fellow Marine who now is serving a 15-month prison sentence.
Holter died Jan. 14, 2005, at Camp Ramadi after Pvt. Marlin R. Goombi Jr. shot his M-16 rifle at Holter as he sat on the floor playing a video game with other Marines, according to documents obtained from the Marine Corps.
Immediately after the shooting, Goombi told Naval Criminal Investigation Services officials the weapon discharged accidentally, according to documents. He changed his statement when NCIS re-interviewed him in June, admitting he knowingly took the safety off his weapon, pointed the weapon at Holter and pulled the trigger, according to NCIS documents obtained from Holter's family and verified by Marine Corps officials. Goombi said he intended to scare Holter and did not know there was a bullet in the weapon, according to documents.
Goombi, 23, was convicted of manslaughter on Dec. 13 after a two-day court-martial at Camp Pendleton, Calif., where the two Marines were based. He is serving his sentence at a detention center at Camp Pendleton.
Goombi, a native of Oklahoma, also was convicted of dereliction of duty, which reduced his rank from lance corporal to private, and sentenced to a bad-conduct discharge, according to Staff Sgt. Nathaniel Garcia, media chief for the base.
Holter was with Artillery Battery S, 2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, in San Diego, Calif., and was serving his second tour of duty in Iraq. He was set to return home this spring and was scheduled for release from the Marines this summer. He planned to pursue a career in law enforcement in Corpus Christi or San Antonio.
Holter graduated from Flour Bluff High School in 2001 and for four years was part of the team that has won nine national Navy Junior ROTC titles. He joined the Marines one month after graduation.
Paul and Tina Holter said they kept quiet about the details surrounding the death of their son for fear it might jeopardize the case. They said they've mourned their son's loss three times in the past year - first, when they heard of his death; second, when they learned in July of Goombi's confession; and third, when the judge sentenced Goombi.
"You would think this trial would set an example, but it didn't," said Tina Holter, a former sailor in the Navy. "We felt anger then and I still feel it toward Goombi. I don't think he should have played God and taken our son away."
The elder Holter served in the Air Force and said he understands military life but cannot understand Goombi's actions.
"Paulie used to say no Iraqi would touch him because the Marines had his back, and all of them did but one," he said. "This one kid went outside the boundaries of what was expected of him and we can't imagine what he was thinking."
Tanya Holter, 24, said she wishes her brother had met her daughter, 16-month-old Bella. Tanya Holter was eight months pregnant when she last saw her brother, and he saw Bella only in photographs.
The screensaver of the Holters' computer is a photograph of the Marine wearing a T-shirt with the words "Tio Pablo" or Uncle Paul. It was a gift the family sent to him after Bella was born.
"Bella's father is Hispanic and Paulie said he'd be known as Tio Pablo," Tanya Holter said. "Every time (Bella) walks in the house, she blows kisses at his picture or waves at it. Goombi asked for our forgiveness, but I think I'll never forgive him."
Holter's parents also said they probably would not forgive Goombi.
"This guy's life will go on in 15 months without mention of him having killed another Marine, my son," Paul Holter said. "It doesn't make sense."
Tina Holter said that when Goombi completes his sentence, she would again mourn the loss of her son.
"There's no greater honor than to die for your country, but Paulie didn't die; he was killed," she said. "Goombi will get to join his wife, have children, see his family and live his life. My son won't."
Holter's killer is serving 15-month sentence in prison
Recently obtained information in the shooting death a year ago of Cpl. Paul C. Holter III, a Corpus Christi native, shows that he was shot by a fellow Marine who now is serving a 15-month prison sentence.
Holter died Jan. 14, 2005, at Camp Ramadi after Pvt. Marlin R. Goombi Jr. shot his M-16 rifle at Holter as he sat on the floor playing a video game with other Marines, according to documents obtained from the Marine Corps.
Immediately after the shooting, Goombi told Naval Criminal Investigation Services officials the weapon discharged accidentally, according to documents. He changed his statement when NCIS re-interviewed him in June, admitting he knowingly took the safety off his weapon, pointed the weapon at Holter and pulled the trigger, according to NCIS documents obtained from Holter's family and verified by Marine Corps officials. Goombi said he intended to scare Holter and did not know there was a bullet in the weapon, according to documents.
Goombi, 23, was convicted of manslaughter on Dec. 13 after a two-day court-martial at Camp Pendleton, Calif., where the two Marines were based. He is serving his sentence at a detention center at Camp Pendleton.
Goombi, a native of Oklahoma, also was convicted of dereliction of duty, which reduced his rank from lance corporal to private, and sentenced to a bad-conduct discharge, according to Staff Sgt. Nathaniel Garcia, media chief for the base.
Holter was with Artillery Battery S, 2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, in San Diego, Calif., and was serving his second tour of duty in Iraq. He was set to return home this spring and was scheduled for release from the Marines this summer. He planned to pursue a career in law enforcement in Corpus Christi or San Antonio.
Holter graduated from Flour Bluff High School in 2001 and for four years was part of the team that has won nine national Navy Junior ROTC titles. He joined the Marines one month after graduation.
Paul and Tina Holter said they kept quiet about the details surrounding the death of their son for fear it might jeopardize the case. They said they've mourned their son's loss three times in the past year - first, when they heard of his death; second, when they learned in July of Goombi's confession; and third, when the judge sentenced Goombi.
"You would think this trial would set an example, but it didn't," said Tina Holter, a former sailor in the Navy. "We felt anger then and I still feel it toward Goombi. I don't think he should have played God and taken our son away."
The elder Holter served in the Air Force and said he understands military life but cannot understand Goombi's actions.
"Paulie used to say no Iraqi would touch him because the Marines had his back, and all of them did but one," he said. "This one kid went outside the boundaries of what was expected of him and we can't imagine what he was thinking."
Tanya Holter, 24, said she wishes her brother had met her daughter, 16-month-old Bella. Tanya Holter was eight months pregnant when she last saw her brother, and he saw Bella only in photographs.
The screensaver of the Holters' computer is a photograph of the Marine wearing a T-shirt with the words "Tio Pablo" or Uncle Paul. It was a gift the family sent to him after Bella was born.
"Bella's father is Hispanic and Paulie said he'd be known as Tio Pablo," Tanya Holter said. "Every time (Bella) walks in the house, she blows kisses at his picture or waves at it. Goombi asked for our forgiveness, but I think I'll never forgive him."
Holter's parents also said they probably would not forgive Goombi.
"This guy's life will go on in 15 months without mention of him having killed another Marine, my son," Paul Holter said. "It doesn't make sense."
Tina Holter said that when Goombi completes his sentence, she would again mourn the loss of her son.
"There's no greater honor than to die for your country, but Paulie didn't die; he was killed," she said. "Goombi will get to join his wife, have children, see his family and live his life. My son won't."
Members of Goombi's family declined to comment.
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