Community Corner

13 Killed in Naval Yard Shooting Rampage, Gunman Dead

Massive disruption of city, surrounding area in horrific shooting spree by man police identify as a Navy veteran and hired contractor.

By Jenni Pompi

A gunman opened fire at the Washington Navy Yard in Southeast Washington Monday morning, killing and wounding multiple victims before being killed, officials said. The death toll stood at 13, according to Washington Mayor Vincent Gray, with eight wounded. 

The shooter has been identified as 34-year-old Aaron Alexis, formerly of Fort Worth, TX, and Brooklyn, NY, according to NBC and other news outlets. Alexis was recently hired as a contractor at the facility and apparently used someone else's security badge to enter the building Monday morning.

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Officials were also looking for an older African-American male with gray sideburns in connection with the incident. He was reported to have worn an olive-drab military-style uniform. 

Alexis is accused of waging a shooting onslaught starting shortly after 8 a.m., sending workers in the Navy facility running and killing 13.

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"I'm reasonably sure that I lost a dear friend in there," one member of the military who works at the Navy Yard, told reporters.

President Obama spoke on national television about the incident.

"We're confronting yet another mass shooting," he said. "These are men and women who were going to work, doing their job protecting all of us," he added, calling the incident a "cowardly act."

Gray said no motive for the shootings was known.

“Our hearts go out to the families,” said DC Police Chief Cathy Lanier.

The shooting sparked a massive police response by local, regional and federal law enforcement, with officers and SWAT teams swarming the area on the ground and in the air. Armed officers were seen patrolling Washington landmarks on foot and there was a security clampdown at the Capitol. 

According to the U.S. Navy, shots were fired by at least one suspect at around 8:15 a.m. in the Naval Sea Systems Command Headquarters building—Building 197.

About 3,000 people work inside the Naval Sea Systems Command's headquarters, and they were immediately instructed to shelter in place.

“We have multiple victims inside that are deceased,” Lanier said during a press conference.

Police continued to search the area, with police helicopters from Maryland and Virginia assisting in the search, according to NBC Washington.

"This investigation is still very active," Lanier said.

Police were originally searching for another suspect described as a white man in a tan, military-style uniform, wearing a beret and carrying a handgun, though this man is no longer considered a suspect, reported NBC.

The three wounded victims from the mass shooting were transferred to MedStar Washington Hospital Center for treatment.

All patients were listed in critical condition, but chances for survival for all three were good, according to Dr. Janis Orlowski, a spokesperson for the hospital.

The first patient is described as a man who suffered from multiple gunshot wounds to his legs; the second patient is a woman who was shot once in the shoulder; the third patient is a woman who was shot in the head and hand.

Orlowski also said, that based on the patients' descriptions, she believes the gun used by the shooter was likely a semi-automatic weapon.

"They are talking about gunshots that happened in rapid succession," Orlowski said.

Family members of those who work at the Navy Yard were able to reunite at Washington Nationals Stadium Parking Lot B, South Capitol & K Streets, Southeast, according to a Tweet by DC police.

Flights were initially grounded at area airports but resumed, though passengers should expect delays, according to several reports.

The Coast Guard established a safety and security zone in response to the shooting.

According to a press release, the security zone limited navigation on the Anacostia River from Haines Point to the John Philip Sousa Bridge to "safeguard persons and property from events unfolding at the Washington Navy Yard," Lt. Cmdr. Richard Armstrong, the chief of Incident Management at Coast Guard Sector Baltimore, said in the release.

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Previous breaking news updates below:

Update, 12:30 p.m: 
One shooter has been confirmed dead, and police are still seeking as many as two other possible shooters in connection with Monday morning's mass shooting incident at the Navy Yard, according to DC Police Chief Cathy Lanier.

"We potentially have two other shooters," Lanier said in a press conference Monday afternoon.

The first possible suspect is described as a white man in a khaki, military-style uniform, wearing a beret and carrying a handgun. He was last seen at the scene at around 8:30 a.m.

The second possibly suspect is described as a black man in his 50s wearing an olive drab, military-style uniform and carrying a long gun.

Lanier said police have no confirmation that the shooters are military personnel, but they may be wearing military style uniforms.

"This investigation is still very active," Lanier said.

She also confirmed there were multiple injured people still at the scene, but did not confirm the number of deceased or shot. 

Update, 11:45 a.m.: Eleven people were shot and four are reported dead following a mass shooting in the the Naval Sea Systems Command Headquarters building at the Washington Navy Yard, according to multiple media reports. 

Three of the victims from Monday morning's shooting have transferred to Med Star Washington Hospital Center for treatment.

All patients are listed in critical condition, but chances for survival for all three are good, according to Dr. Janis Orlowski, a spokesperson for the hospital. 

The first patient is described as a man, who suffered from multiple gunshot wounds to his legs; the second patient is a woman who was shot once in the shoulder; the third patient is a woman who was shot in the head and hand. 

Orlowski also said, that based on the patients' descriptions, she believes the gun used by the shooter was likely a semi-automatic weapon.

"They are talking about gunshots that happened in rapid succession," Orlowski said.

The hospital is currently treating only three shooting victims, but has been told to expect more patients, Orlowski said.

Flights have resumed at area airports, though passengers should expect delays, according to several reports. 

Update, 11:15 a.m.: 
At least four people were killed and at least six others shot when a gunman open fired at the Washington Navy Yard Monday morning, according to multiple news reports. 

The conditions of the surviving shooting victims have not been reported. 

The search for the suspect continues. Police helicopters from Maryland and Virginia are assisting in the search, according to NBC Washington. 

Family members of those who work at the Navy Yard may reunite at Washington Nationals Stadium Parking Lot B, South Capitol & K Streets, Southeast, according to a Tweet by DC police.

The Coast Guard has also established a safety and security zone in response to the shooting. 

According to a press release, the security zone will limit navigation on the Anacostia River from Haines Point to the John Philip Sousa Bridge to "safeguard persons and property from events unfolding at the Washington Navy Yard," Lt. Cmdr. Richard Armstrong, the chief of Incident Management at Coast Guard Sector Baltimore, said in the release

Update, 10:10 a.m.: 
As many as seven people were shot Monday morning by a lone gunman on the grounds of the Washington Navy Yard, according to NBC Washington. 

Two police officers were shot. A shooter has not been apprehended.  

All flights are currently being held at Reagan National Airport, according to The Washington Post. The airport remains open but it is not known when flights will resume taking off and landing. 

Update, 9:35 a.m.: Police are still searching for an active shooter at Navy Yard responsible for shooting at least four people Monday morning. 

Police describe the shooter as a dark complected black man, between 5'10" to 6 feet tall, weighing approximately 170 pounds and wearing a black shirt and hat, reports WUSA9. Police believe the suspect is barricaded somewhere with multiple weapons. 

Update, 9:25 a.m.:
Three people shot were injured this Monday morning during a shooting at Navy Yard in Washington, DC, police told WUSA9. 

Police are still searching the Naval Sea Systems Command Headquarters building for the shooter. 

The 11th Street bridge is closed and M Street between 2nd Street and 4th Street have also been closed as a result of the shoot, according to WUSA9.

Original story, 9:20 a.m.:
A hunt is under way for an active shooter at the Navy Yard in Washington, DC, Monday morning, according to several news reports. 

The United States Navy confirmed via Twitter that three shots were fired at around 8:20 a.m. in the Naval Sea Systems Command Headquarters building—Building 197—and that at least one person was reported injured. 

Emergency response personnel are reportedly on scene and a "shelter in place" order has been issued for all Navy Yard personnel, according to a USNA press release.

About 3,000 people work inside the Naval Sea Systems Command's headquarters.


Associate Editorial Director Todd Richissin and Senior Regional Editor Danna Walker contributed to this report.


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