Joel Cairo/for New York Daily News
Sgt. Lashawn Evans (second from Left)Â in Iraq. Joel Cairo/Daily News
The father of a Queens-born Army sergeant murdered in Iraq is taking the Army’s stalled investigation into his own hands.
Kevin Green â€" whose son LaShawn Evans was shot in the head on Valentine’s Day 2011 after discovering that his fellow soldier wife was having a lesbian affair with another officer â€" has filed papers in Brooklyn Federal Court demanding the preservation of cell phone and text messages from devices belonging to Evans; his wife, Florinda Evans, and LaShawn’s mother-in-law from Jan. 1, 2011, to Sept. 1, 2011.
“I made my son a promise that I would honor him and fight till I know what happened,†Green told the Daily News.
The Army initially ruled Evans’ death a suicide, but the crime was reclassified as a murder six months later. That’s where the investigation remains.
“We cannot think of any good reason why the Army has not provided the father of one of their soldiers with information about a death they ruled a homicide,†said lawyer Jeffrey Schwartz.
An Army spokesman confirmed Evans’ death remains under investigation.
Little is known beyond the basics of the crime:
Evans, 24, was found dead in his wife’s barracks with a rifle next to his body and a blanket over his head.
Green was told by Army officials that Florinda Evans and another unidentified soldier were present at the death scene.
About one month earlier, LaShawn Evans had caught his wife, who had served with him in Baghdad, in bed with a female soldier. The couple separated after that, according to Green.
But LaShawn Evans was moving on with his life, this dad said. He reupped for four more years in the military and was about to be shipped back to Fort Riley in Kansas â€" and there was no hint of depression over his wife’s infidelity, which was reported to Army officials, Green said.
“My son was the happiest kid in the world,†Green said. “His last message on Facebook was, ‘I love you pop. I’ll see you on Friday.’ â€
That was five days before he died.
Green said his daughter-in-law refused to speak with him at the funeral and has not allowed him to have contact with his son's 5-year-old daughter. He said Florinda Evans collected a $ 300,000 death benefit. She has since left the Army and lives in South Carolina. She did not return calls seeking comment.
Green operates two not-for-profit shelters for homeless veterans in upper Manhattan and Brooklyn â€" both have been dedicated in memory of his son.
“We don’t know who did this but we’re going to find the truth,†vowed Green, 52.
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