U.S. Marine in Okinawa Arrested on Suspicion of Robbery and Murder; Takaichi Calls Incident "Cruel and Heinous"

[Financial News | Tokyo—Correspondent Seo Hye-jin] A U.S. Marine stationed in Okinawa, Japan, has been arrested on suspicion of robbing and murdering a local woman. The Japanese government strongly protested to the United States and demanded cooperation with the investigation and measures to prevent a recurrence.
According to Kyodo News, NHK and Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) on the 4th, the Okinawa Prefectural Police arrested U.S. Marine Devin Jacob Ballard (20), assigned to Futenma Air Station, on suspicion of robbery and murder that day in connection with the case of a woman in her 30s who was found dead at a hotel in Naha.
The woman was found dead at a hotel in Naha at around 4:30 a.m. the previous day. Police investigating the circumstances of her death tracked the suspect using nearby closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage and the victim’s belongings, which had been discarded.
CCTV footage from near the scene reportedly showed a short-haired man who appeared to be a foreign national checking into the hotel with the victim and later leaving while carrying her belongings. Ballard reportedly denied the allegations during police questioning. Japanese police have taken the suspect into custody and are investigating the circumstances of the case. They also plan to cooperate with U.S. military investigative authorities.
The Japanese government also responded in strong terms after a U.S. Marine was arrested on suspicion of killing a local woman in Okinawa, where resentment over the presence of U.S. military bases has persisted.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi posted on X that she was "deeply saddened that an extremely cruel and heinous incident has occurred" and expressed condolences and sympathy to the deceased woman and her bereaved family. She added, "The Japanese government has strongly protested to the United States while demanding the utmost cooperation with the investigation, the restoration of discipline within the U.S. military, and strong measures to prevent the recurrence of incidents and accidents." She also said the government would take every possible measure in its response.
Defense Minister Shinjirō Koizumi also told reporters in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, that the incident was "unacceptable, and I feel intense anger." Japan’s Ministry of Defense said it had also protested to the United States.
Vice Foreign Minister Funakoshi Takehiro called U.S. Ambassador to Japan George Edward Glass and strongly protested, saying, "This is deeply regrettable." He demanded full cooperation with the investigation by Japanese authorities, the restoration of discipline within the U.S. military and measures to prevent a recurrence.
Ambassador Glass expressed deep regret and replied, "We will fully cooperate with Japan’s investigation and take every measure we can to prevent a recurrence." In posts written in Japanese and English on X, he also said he had contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and the governor of Okinawa Prefecture and would fully cooperate with the investigation.
III Marine Expeditionary Force, which has its headquarters in Okinawa Prefecture, also issued a statement expressing condolences to the victim’s family. "We take this incident very seriously," III Marine Expeditionary Force said.

[email protected] Seo Hye-jin Reporter