[4] U.S. Army Lieutenant General Peter W. Chiarelli, the second-in-command in Iraq, directed an inquiry into failures of leadership in the Marine command structure.

The climax of the enemy activity just prior to the assault was the ambush, burning and desecration of four American "private military contractors" from Blackwater Security, by an angry mob fueled by insurgents.

After arriving at the compound, a weapons cache and a vehicle with bomb compartments were found at the reported location along with two military age males.

Pantano acknowledge that he shot the captured Iraqis with four dozen bullets, because he wanted "to send a message" after the detainees had refused repeated commands to stop moving toward him.

As per the manual, Winn's findings would include recommendations whether Pantano's case should be referred to a court martial based on the NCIS investigation and any additional factual evidence encountered during this inquiry.

After reviewing the evidence gathered by all the investigations, Major General Huck dropped the murder charge and did not accept the recommendation to administratively discipline Pantano.