2013 — Sep 16, Navy Yard Mass Shooting, Washington, DC[1] –12-13

— 13  MyFoxAtlanta.com. “Navy Yard gunman had history of mental illness.” 9-16-2013.

— 13  NYT. “Gunman and 12 Victims Killed in Shooting at D.C. Navy Yard.” 9-16-2013.

— 13  Washington Metropolitan Police Dept. After Action Report. Washington Navy Yard…

 

Washington, DC Police Dept.: “On the morning of Monday, September 16, 2013, Aaron Alexis entered Building 197 at the Washington Navy Yard, where he served as an independent contractor, and carried out the most deadly workplace mass shooting in the Nation’s Capital in recent memory.

 

“Over the course of 69 minutes, Alexis terrorized thousands of employees of Naval Sea Systems Command, firing indiscriminately from a shotgun he had legally purchased two days earlier and a handgun he had taken from a security guard after mortally wounding the guard. He would also get into multiple shooting engagements with responding law enforcement officers, seriously injuring a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officer. In his final confrontation with police, Alexis ambushed and fired upon another MPD officer. Fortunately, the officer was saved by his protective vest and was able to return fire, killing Alexis and ending his rampage. When it was over, Alexis had shot and killed twelve people and injured several others…” (Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department. After Action Report. Washington Navy Yard, September 16, 2013. Washington, DC: July 2014, p. 3, Executive Summary.)

 

NYT: “Washington — At least 13 people, including one gunman, were killed, and the police were looking for other potential suspects, in a shooting Monday morning at a naval office building not far from Capitol Hill and the White House, police officials said.  One police officer was in surgery after being shot in an exchange of fire with a gunman, said Chief Cathy L. Lanier of the Metropolitan Police Department. The shootings took place at the Washington Navy Yard, in the southeast part of the city.

 

“Senior law enforcement officials identified the gunman as Aaron Alexis, 34. He was identified through his fingerprints. As of Monday night, investigators were operating on the belief that Mr. Alexis acted alone, despite earlier statements from Washington law enforcement officials that there were two other gunmen.

 

“According to the Navy, Mr. Alexis enlisted as a full-time reservist in May 2007 and left the service in January 2011. He served as an aviation electrician, and the highest rank he achieved was mate third class. From February 2008 to January 2011, he was assigned to Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 46, in Fort Worth.  The Navy said that Mr. Alexis had been awarded the National Defense Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal….

 

“Three weapons were found on the gunman: an AR-15 assault rifle [not accurate], a shotgun and a semiautomatic pistol, an official said….

 

“Police officials said that at least two police officers were shot, and that three people were in critical condition….

 

“The shooting started at 8:20 a.m., the Navy said…. Hundreds of police officers and naval officers surrounded the Naval Sea Systems Command headquarters, where about 3,000 service members, civilians and contractors work on the Navy’s fleet….

 

“Investigators were trying to determine whether any of the suspected gunmen had official access to the Navy Yard. The site is protected by a high wall, with entry through checkpoints that require official identification. However, under the “force protection status” that was believed to have been in effect early Monday, someone with official access to the site could have driven a car into the parking lot without having the trunk inspected, or could have entered on foot without a bag being searched….

 

“The Navy Yard sits on the waterfront along the Anacostia River in southeast Washington, near Nationals Park, where Washington’s baseball team plays. It is also at one end of the 11th Street Bridge, one of the major thoroughfares that bring traffic into the city from Maryland….

 

“Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert, a four-star admiral, a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the chief of Naval Operations, was evacuated from his residence at the Navy Yard complex, along with his wife, shortly after the first report of shots fired, according to Navy officials.

 

“Military helicopters circled the facility as police vehicles and other emergency vehicles rushed to the Navy Yard. A helicopter lowered a basket to the roof of one of the buildings and appeared to be taking away victims.

 

“Officials at the nearby Reagan National Airport briefly stopped airplanes from taking off or landing because of the shooting, according to a spokeswoman at the airport’s media office. The stoppage began just before 10 a.m. and was lifted at 10:14 a.m., said Laurie Weaver, the spokeswoman….” (NYT. “Gunman and 12 Victims Killed in Shooting at D.C. Navy Yard.” 9-16-2013.)

Sources

 

MyFoxAtlanta.com. “Navy Yard gunman had history of mental illness.” 9-16-2013. Accessed at: http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/story/23445383/fort-worth-man-alleged-gunman-in-dc-navy-yard-shootings

 

New York Times. “Gunman and 12 Victims Killed in Shooting at D.C. Navy Yard.” 9-16-2013. Accessed 9-16-2013 at: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/17/us/shooting-reported-at-washington-navy-yard.html?pagewanted=all&_r=2&

 

Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department. After Action Report. Washington Navy Yard, September 16, 2013. Washington, DC: July 2014. Accessed 6-3-2015 at: http://apps.washingtonpost.com/g/page/local/navy-yard-shooting-dc-police-after-action-report/1170/

 

 

 

[1] Gunman with mental health issues killed twelve Navy Yard workers before being killed by police.