Yes, it was. First, we KNOW innocent people were killed, so why not apologize? It is also good tactics, since it diffuses anger. And the Army DID an investigation - but the Marines didn’t like where it was headed.
Well, Gen. Conway apparrently did not approve of Col. Nicholson's comments. He was fine with the solatia payments and expressing sympathy for the deaths. But the way I read his comments, he did not approve of assuming their guilt so publicly before any investigations were complete.
Speaking of investigations, here's a link that indicates there was a coordinated attack with a SVBIED and small arms fire.
Lawyers: Evidence backs MarSOC's claims
According to the lawyers who have seen the pictures (from the
Army intelligence report), photos show shot up military vehicles. Their information is based on the
ARMY's reports in this link. Also of interest in the link is info about a raid on April 29 of a suspected car bomb cell in Nangarhar, near where the Marines' convoy was attacked. The raid that killed 6 also sparked a large protest. Maybe the car bomb cell folks were innocent also?