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Jason Earl Armstrong Jr.: Suspect Accused Of Murdering Fort Bragg Soldier Remains On The Run

By Kwao Saa
Published on: 14:45 PST, Jul 17, 2016

Jason Earl Armstrong Jr. remains on the run about 10 days after a federal warrant was issued for his arrest for killing his wife, Iris Armstrong, in their home in Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Iris Armstrong, 24, was a human resource specialist with the 189th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division Sustainment Brigade. She was found dead in the home she shared with Armstrong in the Nijmegen Community on July 6. According to Fay Observer, a Medical Examiner has ruled that Iris died from sharp and blunt force injuries.

Investigators revealed that Armstrong killed Iris by stabbing and beating her on July 1. It is unclear what preceded this incident. A press release from the FBI said that shortly after murdering Iris, Armstrong was seen using her ATM card on surveillance video.

The FBI has put up a reward of about $5,000 for anyone that can provide information that would lead to the arrest of Jason Earl Armstrong Jr. He is said to have ties in California, Texas, Arizona, Louisiana, Georgia, and South Carolina. The FBI has warned that Armstrong should be considered armed and dangerous. Armstrong is about five- to six-feet tall and weighs 150 to 160 pounds. Authorities have not revealed any hints about Armstrong’s whereabouts besides listing locations where he has ties.

While the search for Armstrong continues, Iris is set to be laid to rest on Monday. Her family has invited the Patriot Guard Riders to her funeral.

Iris attended the Richland Northeast High School. She trained at Fort Jackson and joined the Army in 2012, according to Army Times. She was assigned to the 189th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 82nd Airborne Division Sustainment Brigade as a human resource specialist in 2013.

Iris won many medals and awards during her military career including the Army Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Army Good Conduct Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, and the National Defense Medal., Army Times reported.

Many people have paid tribute to Iris Armstrong on social media.

A tribute posted in memory of Iris Armstrong on Facebook by the 82nd Airborne Division described her as “a great Soldier and a great person.”

“Specialist Armstrong was an outstanding Soldier who was well-liked throughout the battalion and at Garrison Operations. She always had a smile on her face and her attitude and character epitomized what the Army looks for in our leaders,” Lt. Col. Jeremy St. Laurent, commander of the 189th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, said.

“She was the sweetest person you could ever meet and a great Soldier. She always came to work with a smile on her face… I’m so grateful I had the opportunity to serve with her,” Staff Sgt. Alisa Dunn-Reid said.

Iris had two children with Armstrong named Jason Earl Armstrong III and Ivan Lorenzo Armstrong, according to The State. The FBI has revealed that the children are safe and are not in the custody of Armstrong.

News of Iris’ death made headlines over a week ago. But authorities did not provide more information about the case until recently. The FBI is undertaking the investigation alongside special agents from the Army Criminal Investigation Command (CID), Army CID spokesman Chris Grey said, according to Army Times.

A soldier, who was based at Fort Bragg, is laid to rest at at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. [Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images]
Iris Armstrong is not the first person that the 82nd Airborne Division has lost in Fort Bragg this year. In May, Spc. Javier Enrique Aguilar lost his life after his car collided with an Army truck. Javier, a paratrooper who served in Afghanistan, died from the injuries he sustained in the accident, Army Times reported.

The FBI has warned members of the public against approaching Jason Earl Armstrong Jr. if he is spotted. Instead, contact the FBI’s Charlotte office on 704-672-6100.

[Image via FBI]

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