The older brother of a U.S. Marine who was killed during the tumultuous U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan last August has reportedly committed suicide at the memorial for the fallen soldier.
On Aug. 26, 2021, a suicide bombing killed 13 U.S. service members and 170 Afghan citizens during the U.S. evacuation at the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul.
One of the American soldiers murdered was Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, 20, from Norco, California.
Fox News reported that Nikoui’s older brother – 28-year-old Dakota Halverson – “died by suicide during a recent memorial service for the fallen service member.”
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said that Dakota Halverson died on Aug. 9, but did not provide more details.
Rep. Mike Garcia (R-Calif.) reacted to the tragic news, “Every service member we lose leaves behind a hole in their families, their communities, and our nation. The 13 heroes we lost last year in Afghanistan are no different, and I’m heartbroken to hear about the loss of Dakota. My prayers are with his family.”
Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla) stated, “The older brother of one of the 13 KIA in Kabul recently killed himself at his little brother’s memorial. Please pray for his family. There MUST be accountability for this continued carnage.”
Townhall writer Julio Rosas shared a Facebook post from Shana Chappell – the mother of the two deceased men.
“The month of August has been very hard so far with the one year coming up,” Chappell wrote. “I look at my kids as strong and like they can handle anything. That was my mistake.”
“My son Dakota has been talking a lot lately about how he just wants to be with Kareem, how much he misses him, etc…. We all feel that way so I didn’t see the signs,” she continued.
“This morning my son Dakota went to be with His brother Kareem,” Chappell announced.
A GoFundMe campaign was launched for donations towards Halverson’s funeral.
“Dakota Halverson was a loving son, brother, and friend,” the description of the crowdfunding campaign read. “Losing his brother nearly one year ago has proven too difficult to bear.”
“Any donations for his burial and services would be greatly appreciated as he wanted to be buried next to his brother Kareem, who was killed August 26th, 2021, while serving his country,” the listing said.
Chappell has been an outspoken critic of President Joe Biden and the deadly U.S. evacuation from Afghanistan that took the life of her son.
Last August, Chappell bashed Biden after meeting with the president.
Chappell slammed Biden in a Facebook post, “MY SONS BLOOD IS ON YOUR HANDS!!! All 13 of them, their blood is on your hands!!!! If my President Trump was in his rightful seat then my son and the other [heroes] would still be alive!!!!”