The Maywand District murders (2010) involved a group of U.S. Army soldiers from the 5th Stryker Brigade in Afghanistan who carried out unlawful killings of Afghan civilians and staged the scenes to appear as legitimate combat engagements. The group became known as the “Kill Team,” and investigations later revealed a pattern of premeditated violence, falsified reports, and internal coercion within the unit.

Calvin Gibbs
Gibbs was identified as the central figure and leader of the group. He encouraged and organized the killings, reportedly selecting targets and directing others on how to stage the incidents. He also promoted the practice of collecting “trophies” from victims and maintained control over the group through intimidation and influence. He was ultimately convicted of multiple counts, including premeditated murder.

Andrew Holmes
Holmes participated in one of the killings after being pressured by other members of the group. Evidence suggested he was hesitant but ultimately complied under coercion from superiors and peers. He later expressed remorse and cooperated with investigators to some extent.

Michael Wagnon
Wagnon took part in planning and executing attacks on civilians and helped stage scenes to justify the killings as combat actions. He also participated in discussions within the group that normalized the violence. He was convicted for his role in the crimes.

Jeremy Morlock
Morlock admitted involvement in multiple killings and provided detailed testimony about how the group operated. He described how weapons were planted near victims to fabricate evidence of hostile intent. His cooperation with authorities contributed significantly to the prosecution of other members.

Adam Winfield
Winfield was aware of the group’s actions and attempted to alert his family and others before the crimes escalated. However, he did not prevent the incidents and later participated under pressure. His case highlighted failures in reporting mechanisms and command oversight within the unit.

Overall, the case exposed serious breaches of military law and ethics, leading to multiple convictions and prompting broader scrutiny of leadership, discipline, and accountability within deployed units.