Female Fort Hood Soldier Beaten by Members of Own Unit

Fort Hood soldier Jacob Andrew Avila was arrested and charged with assault for taking part in an attack towards a fellow female Ft. Hood soldier after a party Sunday.

Avila was one of two men from the the party who assaulted her and other soldiers may be charged as well, according to sources running the investigation.

After being admitted to Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center Sunday morning, Melissa J. Centeno told officers that she was at a party with other members of her unit - the 1st Calvary Division's 3rd Brigade Combat Team - when Avila and a second man, Lucas Curtis, walked into a bedroom while she was kissing another soldier.

A short time later she was walking out of a bathroom when Curtis grabbed her by the neck, shoved her against the wall and began slapping her, according to the arrest affidavit.

Avila admitted to slapping Centeno and confirmed that Curtis had been punching while choking her. She, at one point tripped over a metal cage, which injured her back. After taking a fall, "Lucas [Curtis] straddled her and she was unable to get up."

"I literally thought I was about to die," she told an officer.

Another soldier intervened and pulled the attacker off Centeno and then drove her to a military officer's home before she was taken to the hospital.

Centano suffered from a mild concussion, a ruptured eardrum and abrasions to the face and neck.

The attack has brought the attention to top Army Officials. Fort Hood spokesman Tom Rheinlander made this statement Wednesday:

III Corps and Fort Hood takes all reports of assault seriously. Military law enforcement officials are investigating the allegations in cooperation with civilian law enforcement. The chain of command for the soldiers involved are aware of the incident and will ensure all appropriate measures are taken.