WASHINGTON — At least 12 people were killed and several more wounded when at least one gunman opened fire Monday at the Naval Sea Systems Command headquarters at the Washington Navy Yard, the Navy said. Washington Metropolitan Police Chief Cathy Lanier said one shooter was dead and that police were searching for two more possible shooters. She said one officer was shot in an “engagement” with one shooter. “One shooter is deceased,” she said. “We have multiple victims inside who are deceased. We potentially have two other shooters who have not been located.’ Police are still looking for two other potential gunmen wearing military-style uniforms, Lanier said. One is a white male wearing a “khaki tan” short-sleeved uniform with a hat, which the chief described as a “naval uniform.” This man was last seen at 8:35 a.m. carrying a handgun. The other suspect is described as a black male wearing a drab olive military-style uniform and carrying a long gun. She said there was no evidence that the suspects were military members. A federal law enforcement official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the fluid nature of the investigation, said authorities were investigating the possibility of other shooters, but there was no immediate evidence beyond the single assailant. Washington DC Mayor Vincent Gray called the incident a “horrific tragedy” and lauded police for their quick response. Media outlets including CBS and the Associated Press, citing the Navy, said the number of dead had risen to six. Capt. Ed Buclatin, the public affairs chief for the Navy Installations Command, earlier had tweeted “four killed and eight injured.” Janis Orlowsky, chief medical officer at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, said the hospital was treating three victims — a male D.C. police officer and two women. She said the police officer had multiple gunshot wounds to his legs and was in surgery. One woman was shot in the shoulder, and the other in the head and hand. All are expected to survive, she said. The hospital has been told to expect additional victims, Orlowsky said. “We’re pretty darned experienced at this.” Rick Mason, a program management analyst who is a civilian for the Navy, said he was at the Navy Yard when a gunman began shooting from a fourth-floor overlook in the hallway outside his office. He said the gunman was aiming down at people in the building’s cafeteria on the first floor. Mason said he could hear the shots but could not see a gunman. Mason said overhead speakers told workers to seek shelter and later to leave the building. Patricia Ward, a logistics management specialist, said she was in the cafeteria. “I heard three shots — pow, pow, pow. Thirty seconds later I heard four more shots.” Then panic, as people tried to get out of the cafeteria. “A lot of people were just panicking. There were no screams or anything because we were in shock.” Dave Sarr, an environmental engineer, was walking down a nearby street when he saw people running from the Navy Yard. Sarr has seen an evacuation drill a few days earlier at the Navy Yard. “At first I thought it was another drill,” Sarr said. “Then I saw an officer with his weapon drawn.” President Obama made a brief statement, sending describing the victims as “patriots” and promising a thorough investigation. “I made it clear to my team that I want the investigation to be seamless,” Obama said. The first news broke with the Navy reporting on its Twitter feed that there was an “active shooter” at Building 197 at the Navy Yard, and that three shots had been fired at 8:20 a.m. ET. The Navy later reported deaths and injuries, but details remained fluid. James Killingsworth, a mason from Frederick, Md., was working on rebuilding a historic wall about 100 yards from the Navy Yard entrance when he heard two gunshots. If there were any other shots, he said, they were immediately drowned out by wailing sirens. “Everything they had, Secret Service, federal police, everyone came speeding down the street. I’ve never seen so many police in my life,” he said. “Scary morning.” Flights at nearby Washington Reagan National Airport were disrupted, with all departures temporarily halted at the airport. The Navy Yard is located on the banks of the Anacostia River, a few blocks from the Nationals baseball stadium. It’s in an urban area where the development of new parks, shops and apartments has been ongoing. Families gathered for word on loved ones at the Nationals Stadium, blocks away from the Navy Yard. “Right now I’m asking God to help me get through this,” said Jacqueline Alston, whose husband Ernest Johnson is a contractor who works on the fourth floor of NAVSEA’s headquarters. She described herself as “numb” while she awaits word on her husband, noting that he doesn’t have a cell phone as these are prohibited inside the building. Naval Sea Systems Command is the largest of the Navy’s five system commands and accounts for a quarter of the Navy’s entire budget. It builds, buys and maintains the Navy’s ships and submarines and their combat systems. NAVSEA headquarters’ security requires guests to pass through turnstiles that are watched by security guards before entering. Visitors must also turn in their phones and other electronic recording devices upon entry. Capt. Michael Graham, who works at NAVSEA, was running late this morning coming in and by the time he arrived the base was already in a lock-down. Graham said he had never seen a shelter in place drill in his five years at NAVSEA. “I’ve never seen a shelter in place, I’ve seen the normal fire drills things like that, but never a shelter in place drill,” said Graham. “Normally the drills you have are to get out of the building.” Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jon Greenert lives on the Navy Yard and was at home when the shootings started, a Navy official said. Greenert and his wife, Darleen, were quickly escorted off base and taken to the Pentagon. Employees of Military Sealift Command and Navy History and Heritage Command, both based at the Navy Yard, are all safe and accounted for, Navy officials said. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus posted the following statement on his official Facebook page: “I’m deeply shocked and saddened by the shooting this morning at the Navy Yard. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. I have complete confidence in our first responders, and I continue to be completely focused on this very difficult situation.” Marine Barracks Washington also put their base on a partial lock down, only allowing Marines to leave if they were on official business, said Capt. Jack Norton, a base spokesman. A small contingent from Marine Barracks Washington’s Guard Company serves at the Navy Yard, Norton said. Family members looking for information about their loved ones can call 202-433-6151 or 202-433-9713.
Posted on: Mon, 16 Sep 2013 18:32:25 +0000
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