Former Army Ranger Calls Roommate's Death Suicide

A former U.S. Army Ranger accused of fatally shooting his roommate, who also was his subordinate, says the younger soldier committed suicide in their Gaithersburg apartment and that he initially lied to detectives because he "freaked out," his lawyers said yesterday.

Gary James Smith, 24, could be released as early as today in the slaying of Michael McQueen on a $250,000 bond.

The decision upset McQueen's father.

"To me this is very disappointing," said Mike McQueen. "When someone is accused of a crime that serious, generally they're not allowed to post a bond."

Prosecutors and Smith's supporters offered starkly different portrayals of the former sergeant and the shooting yesterday during a bond hearing in Rockville.

Assistant State's Attorney Robert Hill, who asked that Smith be held without bond, said Smith told detectives conflicting stories after the Sept. 26 shooting.

"This was not a suicide; it was a murder," said Hill, who declined to speak about a possible motive in the case. "This is a person who killed an Army buddy, a friend of his."

Smith initially said he arrived home to find his roommate's body in the living room, police said. He later said he was home when McQueen shot himself.

Smith ultimately told investigators that he panicked after discovering his roommate had killed himself and discarded the .38-caliber handgun used in the shooting in a lake near their apartment.

Investigators say they found bloodstains on one of Smith's sneakers and a pant leg and gunshot residue on his hands.

Andrew V. Jezic, Smith's attorney, said McQueen, 22, was distraught over a recent breakup with his girlfriend and described the two roommates as close friends who had no reason to fight.

McQueen said his son was not distressed over the split and disputed the defense lawyer's characterization of the soldiers' relationship.

"He had never been in Michael's circle of friends," McQueen said yesterday in a phone interview. "The first time I ever saw Gary Smith's face was in a mug shot."

The two moved in together shortly after McQueen, a specialist with the 75th Ranger Regiment, based at Fort Benning, Ga., returned from his third tour in Afghanistan.

District Court Judge Barry A. Hamilton said Smith is not allowed to leave his father's Rockville home other than to go to school, work, court or to meet with his attorneys. Smith is enrolled in Montgomery College and is expected to start a job next week. His prospective boss, Steven A. Esrig -- chief executive of Stelor Productions, a media company that develops content for children -- spoke at the hearing.

"We would stand by Greg Smith under any circumstance," Esrig said, adding that he has trusted Smith to look after his two young children when he and his wife were out of town. "This man is innocent. This is a travesty."

Hamilton scheduled a preliminary hearing for Dec. 3.