U.S. Serviceman Injures Four in Japan, Ordered to Pay Damages but Flees Before Verdict

In a case that has stirred public outrage and renewed scrutiny of the U.S.-Japan Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), a U.S. Navy serviceman assigned to Yokosuka Naval Base severely injured four civilians in Zushi City, Kanagawa Prefecture, in 2022. The incident, involving 31-year-old Petty Officer Second Class, unfolded when he violently barreled into pedestrians on the street.

Here’s exactly what happened based on the reports:

• In July 2022, in Zushi City, the sailor, shirtless, charged at and barreled into four pedestrians one after another, causing serious and minor injuries.
• One woman was shoved from behind, fell face-first onto the ground, and fractured the orbital floor of her eye socket as well as both hands.
• Witnesses and a man who tried to stop him said the sailor appeared wild, aggressive, and had dilated pupils, suggesting he was either drunk, high, or otherwise in a mentally altered state.
• After attacking people, he fled but was cornered at a train station platform.
• Despite the seriousness of the injuries inflicted—including bone fractures and long-term neurological damage—the serviceman was neither arrested at the scene nor detained thereafter.

Footage obtained by Japanese media showed the sailor surrounded by police at a train station but notably without handcuffs. He voluntarily accompanied officers to a police station but refused to undergo alcohol and drug testing and was allowed to return home by taxi. The situation highlighted the controversial protections provided to U.S. military personnel under SOFA, particularly regarding pre-indictment custody decisions.

Legal Proceedings and Sentencing

Initially, the serviceman claimed he was “insane under the influence of alcohol” at the time of the attack, pleading not guilty to charges of bodily injury. Nevertheless, in September 2024, he was found guilty and received a sentence of two years and four months in prison, suspended for four years—a verdict now finalized.

Today, the Yokohama District Court ruled on the civil lawsuit brought by the four victims, ordering the sailor to pay more than 16 million yen (approximately $105,000) in damages. The court acknowledged the severity of the injuries and the ongoing suffering endured by the victims, particularly one woman who continues to experience chronic numbness and loss of grip strength from her injuries.

Complications and Return to the U.S.

Complicating matters, it was revealed that just before the civil verdict, the sailor had been reassigned and returned to the United States. This relocation raises significant hurdles in enforcing the court-ordered compensation. Under normal circumstances, asset seizure could be employed to recover unpaid damages, but cross-border complications may now render this extremely difficult.

Attorney Masahiko Goto, representing the victims, expressed frustration, stating that they had formally requested that authorities prevent the serviceman’s departure until his legal obligations in Japan were fulfilled—a request that was ultimately ignored.

Victims are now proceeding with a secondary compensation claim process through the U.S. government under SOFA provisions. To date, the serviceman has offered no apology to those he injured.

Broader Context and Public Reaction

This case is the latest in a series of incidents involving U.S. military personnel overseas that have fueled local resentment. Similar episodes—such as the Ridge Alkonis case in Japan and the Cavalese cable car disaster involving U.S. Marines in Italy—underscore a persistent perception that American servicemen are often shielded from full accountability abroad.

Critics argue that the SOFA arrangements enable unequal treatment under local laws, allowing U.S. military members to evade immediate detention or more severe penalties. Online commentators have widely condemned the case, with many pointing out that ¥16 million seemed an inadequate reparation given the victims’ suffering. The sentiment that U.S. forces act with impunity in host countries remains a highly contentious issue, particularly in regions heavily impacted by military base operations.