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U.S. contractor charged in Afghan's death

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  • Don Ayala of Louisiana is accused of shooting Afghan civilian
  • Afghan allegedly threw lit container of flammable liquid at a fellow contractor
  • Ayala accused of shooting man after fellow contractor's condition was revealed
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By Adam Levine
CNN
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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A contractor for the U.S. military in Afghanistan has been charged with killing an Afghan civilian.

The contractor, Don Ayala of New Orleans, Louisiana, is accused of shooting the Afghan civilian in the head after having helped restrain him. He is charged with second degree murder in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Virginia.

The Afghan, Abdul Salam, was apprehended and subdued by Ayala and others after Salam allegedly threw a lit container of flammable liquid at a fellow contractor.

Salam continued to struggle even after he was put in plastic restraints and, according to court documents, was "effectively immobilized."

About 10 minutes after Salam was restrained, a soldier came to inform everyone that their colleague was badly burned.

"Ayala pushed his pistol against Salam's head and shot Salam, killing him instantly," according to the court document.

The incident took place in the village of Chehel Gazi, Afghanistan.

Attempts to reach Ayala's attorney were unsuccessful.

Ayala is employed by Strategic Analysis, which provides support to U.S. troops. Previously, working for other companies, Ayala had been part of the security teams for the Iraqi prime minister and the Afghan president, court documents state.

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