Additional Remains Found of US Soldier Killed in Niger

Investigators found additional remains in early November of Army Sergeant La David Johnson, who was killed in an ambush last month in Niger along with three other U.S. soldiers, an official said Tuesday.

"We can confirm that the Armed Forces Medical Examiner has positively identified these remains as those of Sgt. Johnson," Dana W. White, chief spokesperson for the Department of Defense, said in a statement. "The department continues to conduct a detailed and thorough investigation into the deaths of Staff Sgt. Bryan C. Black, Staff Sgt. Jeremiah W. Johnson, Staff Sgt. Dustin M. Wright, and Sgt. La David T. Johnson. We extend our deepest condolences to all of the families of the fallen."

Investigators found the remains on Nov. 12 at the site where Johnson's body was recovered, and military medical examiners verified that the remains were Johnson's.

The official said Johnson's family has been notified of the new discovery.

President Donald Trump’s handling of condolence messages to the families of the dead U.S. soldiers has been criticized by lawmakers in Washington and has raised the profile of the deadly incident.