A Marine is Jonathan Dale Bentonbeing held by Camp Lejeune base law enforcement officials on suspicion of being involved in the homicide of another Marine, the base said.

The suspect was taken into custody at about 10:15 p.m. Wednesday night, according to a statement from the base, after an incident in an on-base barracks room earlier in the evening.

The statement referred to the Marine's death as a homicide, but did not provide any additional information, including the cause of death. The statement said more information would be provided as it becomes available.

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Homicide occurs before annual training

The incident comes two days before the base was scheduled to conduct its annual emergency response exercise.

The exercise "provides an opportunity for tenant commands to develop and exercise emergency security procedures," according to a news release from the base.

The release says the exercise also provides "realistic training opportunities meant to increase the installation's emergency response efforts, command and control, and security capabilities."

According to its website, Camp Lejeune has been the home of "expeditionary forces in readiness" since 1941, and has become the home base for the II Marine Expeditionary Force, 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Logistics Group and other combat units and support commands.

The base, located in Onslow County in southeastern North Carolina, occupies over 150,000 acres and has 14 miles of beach on the Atlantic Ocean.

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