Who is Owen G Ray? Green Beret threatens to kill wife in front of 3 kids, holds them hostage in police standoff
A Green Beret allegedly threatened to kill his wife in front of his three children before holding them hostage during a two-hour standoff with police. Army Colonel Owen G Ray, 47, was charged after he was accused of beating his wife, Kristen, on Sunday, December 27, in their home on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. His two youngest children witnessed his alleged crime and his eldest called the police. Ray was armed with a shotgun and two pistols when the authorities arrived at his house and reportedly warned that if anyone tried to arrest him, he would kill them and himself, according to Military.com.
According to an official Army website, Ray has held a command at every level within the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), which deploys missions throughout the Indo-Pacific. In 2011, he served as a detachment commander in 2003 and as company commander in Afghanistan. In 2013, Ray commanded the 4th Battalion of 1st SFG (A) and deployed as part of the Special Operations Joint Task Force before assuming the position of I Corps chief of staff at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
Ray set his wife and children free around 12.30 am, but he did not surrender himself until around 2.30 am, police say. First, his wife exited the house with his younger children, followed by his eldest daughter. "Ray could be heard saying, that law enforcement had surrounded the house so what choice did he have now and "You're going to force me to kill myself,'" according to the affidavit. He also reportedly told officers on the phone that he was going to shoot any officers who tried to arrest him and himself. "He stated that he had killed a lot of people and he had no problem killing law enforcement if they made attempts to arrest him," according to the affidavit, viewed by Military.com.
At 2.22 am, he finally surrendered and was arrested by officers with the Lakewood Police Department. The affidavit noted that the incident began after Ray and his wife, Kristin got into an argument, in which she accused her husband of being drunk. As the argument became increasingly violent, Kristen became scared and hid in the bedroom of her seven-year-old and 10-year-old.
Kristen told police she heard her husband say, "Let's do this" after which he went to the garage to retrieve his firearms. Ray allegedly started "shouting and swinging the gun around" after finding his wife and children. At one point Kristin threatened to call the police which made him "enraged." He aimed one of the guns at Kristen, threatening to kill her in front of the children, reported Military.com. Ray allegedly then kicked his wife repeatedly in the face and chest while the younger children screamed, "Don't kill mom! Don't shoot us!"
Ray's 16-year-old daughter eventually got the opportunity to dial 911 and told dispatchers what was happening. The children could be heard screaming during the 911 call.
Ray was charged with one count of kidnapping in the first degree, two counts of second-degree assault, one count of felony harassment, and one count of reckless endangerment. He is currently being held at the Pierce County Jail on a $1 million cash or bail bond. His bail hearing is set for January 4 and has been ordered to reappear in court on January 11 with his attorney.
Joint Base Lewis-McChord told Military.com that Ray has been suspended from his job as I Corps chief of staff.