Newlywed soldier allegedly burglarizing homes hours following wedding accused of murder after accomplice dies

A newlywed and his accomplice in Missouri are charged with second-degree murder in connection to the shooting death of their fellow soldier, authorities said.

On Dec. 3, Blake R. Paulson was married around 6 p.m. According to a probable cause statement obtained by KOLR, at some point that evening, Ethan Williams called Paulson and Zackary R. Gillis and allegedly asked for their help burglarizing homes in Laclede County.

Paulson later allegedly told his Army CID Special Agent that the three, who are all soldiers stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, kicked down the door of a trailer in Lebanon and stole an Xbox gaming console before going to a second residence and taking money and marijuana belonging to a 16-year-old male who lived there.

As the armed men left the second home, the 16-year-old shot at them and struck 23-year-old Williams, but the trio managed to flee. Court documents state the soldiers drove to Williams’ home, where a neighbor shot video that allegedly shows Gillis and Paulson pulling the wounded Williams from the trunk of a car, laying him on Williams’ front yard and driving away.

Williams died from his gunshot wounds, and, according to court documents, Gillis and Paulson later turned themselves in to their sergeant, according to KOLR.

Gillis and Paulson each face a second-degree murder and first-degree burglary charge and were being held without bond at the Laclede County Jail.