Barksdale airman sentenced to 35 years for killing roommate

Shreveport Times

SHREVEPORT, Louisiana — A Barksdale airman has been sentenced to 35 years of confinement and will be dishonorably discharged from the Air Force after being found guilty in the murder of his roommate.

Airman 1st Class Isaiah Edwards, 22, was sentenced Tuesday by a seven-member Air Force panel following his conviction in the slaying of Airman 1st Class Bradley Hale, 20.

The statue of the scales of Justice located in front of the Federal Courthouse Building in downtown Shreveport.

Hale was found stabbed to death in the early morning hours of March 27, 2018, in the living quarters he shared with Edwards at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam.

Both men had deployed to Guam in early 2018 but were stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base. The airmen were both assigned to the 2nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron as electric warfare journeymen.

The prosecution asked last week that Edwards receive the maximum penalty, which would have been life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Hale’s mother, Charla Hale, said the family had wanted Edwards to receive a longer sentence. But, she said, they were glad Edwards received more sentenced time than the defense's request of less than 10 years.

Charla Hale said the trial has been hanging over the family's heads for the past 10 months and now that it is over, they can fully grieve for their lost loved one.

"He was amazing," she said of Bradley Hale. "Nothing short of amazing."

Barksdale Air Force Base released a statement following the conclusion of the trial.

"Our thoughts remain with A1C Hale’s family and his unit as they continue to cope with the tragic loss from this incident," the statement read. "Losing any airman has a profound impact on families, local communities and the Air Force mission."

Barksdale airman sentenced to 35 years for killing roommate

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