Japan delivers ‘strong protest’ to U.S. after marine arrested in Okinawa robbery-murder

Osprey military aircraft are seen at the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, where the 20-year-old suspect in a robbery-murder is stationed. | REUTERS

Oct 4, 2026

Japan delivered a “strong protest” to the U.S. on Sunday, a day after a U.S. Marine based in Okinawa Prefecture was arrested on suspicion of robbing and murdering a local woman.

The 20-year-old suspect, identified as Devin Jacob Ballard, who is stationed at the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, is suspected of killing the woman and stealing her backpack and wallet at a hotel in Naha in the early hours of Saturday, according to the Okinawa Prefectural Police.

The suspect has denied the charges, the police said.

In a time of both misinformation and too much information,
quality journalism is more crucial than ever.
By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.