The Navy Yard shooting left 12 people dead on Monday after a gunman opened fire inside Building 197, the headquarters of Naval Sea Systems Command in Southeast Washington. The gunman was also killed, bringing the death toll to 13.
NPR reported that the first shots rang out around 8:20 a.m. Eight other people were hurt, though not all of them were shot. DC Police Chief Cathy Lanier said one of the wounded was a DC police officer, and that none of the people killed or injured were on active military duty, according to The Washington Times.
The FBI identified the gunman as Aaron Alexis, 34, a former Navy reservist who was born in Queens, New York. NPR reported that he served in the reserves from May 2007 to January 2011 and left with a general discharge for misconduct. At the time of the shooting he was working for The Experts, a subcontractor to HP. FBI Assistant Director Valerie Parlave said Alexis had “legitimate access to the Navy Yard” and used a valid pass to get inside. Police said he died after a series of gun battles with officers in the building.
For much of the day, police said they were searching for two other possible shooters, and people who live and work near the base were told to stay where they were while officers swept the area. The Navy Yard shooting rippled across the city. Flights out of Reagan National Airport were briefly halted, and the Washington Nationals postponed their home game against the Atlanta Braves.
Mayor Vincent Gray said there was no reason to suspect terrorism, and officials had not announced a motive. President Barack Obama called the attack a cowardly act and described the victims as patriots. Gray said the victims ranged in age from 46 to 73, and officials spent Monday night notifying their families.
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