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Naval Yard Gunman Is Said to Have Had Mental Ills for a Decade Signs of Mental Illness Seen in Navy Gunman for Decade
(about 1 hour later)
WASHINGTON — The former Navy reservist who killed 12 people in a shooting rampage at the Washington Navy Yard on Monday had exhibited signs of mental illness dating back more than a decade, a law enforcement official said Tuesday. WASHINGTON — The former Navy reservist who killed 12 people in a shooting rampage at the Washington Navy Yard on Monday had exhibited signs of mental illness dating back more than a decade, including a recent episode in which he complained about hearing voices and of people sending “vibrations to his body” to prevent him from sleeping, law enforcement officials said Tuesday.
The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the continuing investigation, said that the gunman, Aaron Alexis, had been exhibiting symptoms of mental illness since at least his early 20s, before he joined the naval reserve and then went on to be a military contractor. The official said Mr. Alexis has been described by people who knew him as paranoid and delusional. One official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the continuing investigation, said that the gunman, Aaron Alexis, had been exhibiting symptoms of mental illness since at least his early 20s, before he joined the naval reserve and then went on to be a military contractor. The official said Mr. Alexis has been described by people who knew him as paranoid and delusional.
“He had complained of hearing voices and ringing of the ears,” the law enforcement official said about Mr. Alexis, although it is not clear whether Mr. Alexis had sought medical treatment.“He had complained of hearing voices and ringing of the ears,” the law enforcement official said about Mr. Alexis, although it is not clear whether Mr. Alexis had sought medical treatment.
Mr. Alexis, according to a report filed by an officer with the Newport Police Department in Rhode Island, was suffering from hallucinations so serious that he had called the police last month, a police official said.
Mr. Alexis, according to a police report read over the phone on Tuesday by Lt. William Fitzgerald, called the police around 6 a.m. on Aug. 7.
When officers responded to his room at a hotel in Newport, Mr. Alexis told them that he had gotten into an argument with someone at an airport in Virginia. He said the person he had argued with “had sent three people to follow him and to keep him awake by talking to him and sending vibrations to his body” via a microwave machine, according to the police report.
Mr. Alexis had moved to three different hotels in a single night to elude strange voices and people he believed were sending the microwave vibrations. At a hotel at a nearby naval base, Mr. Alexis told the police that he had heard “voices speaking to him through the wall, flooring and ceiling,” Lt. Fitzgerald said.
Mr. Alexis told officers that he “had never felt anything like this before,” and “he was worried these people were going to harm him,” Lt. Fitzgerald said.
“He said he never had a history of mental illness,” Lt. Fitzgerald said.
The police told Mr. Alexis to stay away from the individuals he believed were following him.
“No further action was required,” Lt. Fitzgerald said, reading aloud from the police report.
On Monday, Mr. Alexis entered the Navy Yard, a secure military facility near the Capitol, killing at least 12 people before he was fatally shot by the authorities. The police say Mr. Alexis, 34, acted alone. On Tuesday a full list of victims’ names was released.On Monday, Mr. Alexis entered the Navy Yard, a secure military facility near the Capitol, killing at least 12 people before he was fatally shot by the authorities. The police say Mr. Alexis, 34, acted alone. On Tuesday a full list of victims’ names was released.
Navy officials said that although he had shown a “pattern of misbehavior,” which included insubordination and unauthorized absences, Mr. Alexis was given an honorable discharge from the military in January 2011 after he had applied for an early discharge under the Navy’s “early enlisted transition program.”Navy officials said that although he had shown a “pattern of misbehavior,” which included insubordination and unauthorized absences, Mr. Alexis was given an honorable discharge from the military in January 2011 after he had applied for an early discharge under the Navy’s “early enlisted transition program.”
Those issues had led the Navy to consider forcing Mr. Alexis out of the service with a less than honorable discharge, a law enforcement official said Tuesday.Those issues had led the Navy to consider forcing Mr. Alexis out of the service with a less than honorable discharge, a law enforcement official said Tuesday.
Investigators searching for a motive for the rampage that shut down a portion of Washington on Monday said people had begun noticing Mr. Alexis’s potential mental health problems around the time of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in 2001. Mr. Alexis’s father has told the authorities that his son had been among the first responders at the World Trade Center and that he believed that Mr. Alexis suffered from post-traumatic stress and had difficulty controlling his anger. It was not known whether he was involved in any rescue effort. But he was a part-time clerical worker nearby at the Borough of Manhattan Community College from February 2001 until February 2003, according to college records.Investigators searching for a motive for the rampage that shut down a portion of Washington on Monday said people had begun noticing Mr. Alexis’s potential mental health problems around the time of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in 2001. Mr. Alexis’s father has told the authorities that his son had been among the first responders at the World Trade Center and that he believed that Mr. Alexis suffered from post-traumatic stress and had difficulty controlling his anger. It was not known whether he was involved in any rescue effort. But he was a part-time clerical worker nearby at the Borough of Manhattan Community College from February 2001 until February 2003, according to college records.
Mr. Alexis had been arrested at least three times during the past decade by civilian authorities, twice for weapons violations.Mr. Alexis had been arrested at least three times during the past decade by civilian authorities, twice for weapons violations.
Mr. Alexis, according to a Seattle police report, had been arrested for shooting the right and left rear tires of another man’s vehicle with a .45-caliber pistol before firing a shot into the air. Mr. Alexis described the incident to detectives as an anger-fueled “blackout,” according to the report.Mr. Alexis, according to a Seattle police report, had been arrested for shooting the right and left rear tires of another man’s vehicle with a .45-caliber pistol before firing a shot into the air. Mr. Alexis described the incident to detectives as an anger-fueled “blackout,” according to the report.
Mr. Alexis had also been arrested in Fort Worth in 2010 for discharging a firearm after an upstairs neighbor said he had confronted her in the parking lot about making too much noise, according to a Fort Worth police report.Mr. Alexis had also been arrested in Fort Worth in 2010 for discharging a firearm after an upstairs neighbor said he had confronted her in the parking lot about making too much noise, according to a Fort Worth police report.
In 2008, he had been arrested outside Atlanta for disorderly conduct related to a dispute inside a nightclub, according to a police report from DeKalb County. No weapon was involved in that incident, according to the police.In 2008, he had been arrested outside Atlanta for disorderly conduct related to a dispute inside a nightclub, according to a police report from DeKalb County. No weapon was involved in that incident, according to the police.
The mass shooting Monday led the authorities to lock down part of the nation’s capital shortly after the chaos at the Washington Navy Yard began around 8 a.m. Civilian employees described a scene of confusion as shots erupted through the hallways of the Naval Sea Systems Command headquarters, on the banks of the Anacostia River a few miles from the White House and about a half-mile from the Capitol.The mass shooting Monday led the authorities to lock down part of the nation’s capital shortly after the chaos at the Washington Navy Yard began around 8 a.m. Civilian employees described a scene of confusion as shots erupted through the hallways of the Naval Sea Systems Command headquarters, on the banks of the Anacostia River a few miles from the White House and about a half-mile from the Capitol.
“I heard three gunshots, pow, pow, pow, straight in a row,” said Patricia Ward, a logistics management specialist from Woodbridge, Va., who was in the cafeteria on the first floor when the shooting started. “About three seconds later, there were four more gunshots, and all of the people in the cafeteria were panicking, trying to figure out which way we were going to run out.”“I heard three gunshots, pow, pow, pow, straight in a row,” said Patricia Ward, a logistics management specialist from Woodbridge, Va., who was in the cafeteria on the first floor when the shooting started. “About three seconds later, there were four more gunshots, and all of the people in the cafeteria were panicking, trying to figure out which way we were going to run out.”
Police officers who swarmed the military facility exchanged fire with Mr. Alexis, who had been a naval reservist in Fort Worth. Police officers killed Mr. Alexis, law enforcement officials said, but not before a dozen people were killed and several others, including a city police officer, were wounded and taken to local hospitals.Police officers who swarmed the military facility exchanged fire with Mr. Alexis, who had been a naval reservist in Fort Worth. Police officers killed Mr. Alexis, law enforcement officials said, but not before a dozen people were killed and several others, including a city police officer, were wounded and taken to local hospitals.
Officials said Mr. Alexis drove a rental car to the base and entered using his access as a contractor and shot an officer and one other person outside Building 197, the Sea Systems Command headquarters. Inside, Mr. Alexis made his way to a floor overlooking an atrium and took aim at employees eating breakfast below.Officials said Mr. Alexis drove a rental car to the base and entered using his access as a contractor and shot an officer and one other person outside Building 197, the Sea Systems Command headquarters. Inside, Mr. Alexis made his way to a floor overlooking an atrium and took aim at employees eating breakfast below.
“He was shooting down from above the people,” one law enforcement official said. “That is where he does most of his damage.”“He was shooting down from above the people,” one law enforcement official said. “That is where he does most of his damage.”
Pentagon officials confirmed that the Defense Department Inspector General’s office had been conducting an audit of access procedures and safety at the Navy Yard. The audit, first reported by Time Magazine, is due to be released in the next several weeks.Pentagon officials confirmed that the Defense Department Inspector General’s office had been conducting an audit of access procedures and safety at the Navy Yard. The audit, first reported by Time Magazine, is due to be released in the next several weeks.
The names of the 12 victims have been released: Michael Arnold, 59; Martin Bodrog, 54; Arthur Daniels, 51; Sylvia Frasier, 53; Kathy Gaarde, 62; John Roger Johnson, 73; Mary Francis Knight, 51; Frank Kohler, 50; Kenneth Bernard Proctor, 46; Vishnu Pandit, 61; Gerald L. Read, 58; and Richard Michael Ridgell, 52.The names of the 12 victims have been released: Michael Arnold, 59; Martin Bodrog, 54; Arthur Daniels, 51; Sylvia Frasier, 53; Kathy Gaarde, 62; John Roger Johnson, 73; Mary Francis Knight, 51; Frank Kohler, 50; Kenneth Bernard Proctor, 46; Vishnu Pandit, 61; Gerald L. Read, 58; and Richard Michael Ridgell, 52.
All of the victims were believed to be civilians or contractors. No active-duty military personnel were killed, said Chief Cathy L. Lanier of Washington.All of the victims were believed to be civilians or contractors. No active-duty military personnel were killed, said Chief Cathy L. Lanier of Washington.
One victim was shot in the left temple and was pronounced dead within a minute of arriving at George Washington University Hospital. “This injury was not survivable by any stretch,” a hospital official told reporters. “The patient was dead on the way to the hospital.” Eight people were also injured, including Officer Scott Williams of the Washington police, who underwent several hours of surgery for gunshot wounds to his legs.
Eight people were injured. Three of them were shot, including Officer Scott Williams of the Washington police. The others suffered injuries from falls or complained of chest pains. Officer Williams, who served in the canine unit, underwent several hours of surgery for gunshot wounds to his legs. A second victim suffered a gunshot wound to her shoulder. A bullet grazed a third victim’s head but did not penetrate her skull, according to doctors at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. An AR-15 assault rifle, a shotgun and a semiautomatic pistol were found on Mr. Alexis, a senior law enforcement officer said. It was unclear whether he had brought all the guns with him, another law enforcement official said, or if he had taken one or more of them from his victims.
Three weapons were found on Mr. Alexis: an AR-15 assault rifle, a shotgun and a semiautomatic pistol, a senior law enforcement officer said. It was unclear whether he had brought all the guns with him, another law enforcement official said, or if he had taken one or more of them from his victims.
Officials have asked the public for help in determining a motive by posting pictures of Mr. Alexis on the F.B.I. Web site. The agency is treating the shooting as a criminal investigation, not one related to terrorism.Officials have asked the public for help in determining a motive by posting pictures of Mr. Alexis on the F.B.I. Web site. The agency is treating the shooting as a criminal investigation, not one related to terrorism.
Navy officials said Mr. Alexis had worked as a contractor in information technology. A spokesman for Hewlett-Packard said Mr. Alexis had been an employee of a company called The Experts, a subcontractor on an HP Enterprise Services contract.Navy officials said Mr. Alexis had worked as a contractor in information technology. A spokesman for Hewlett-Packard said Mr. Alexis had been an employee of a company called The Experts, a subcontractor on an HP Enterprise Services contract.
On Tuesday, Thomas E. Hoshko, the chief executive officer of The Experts, said that Mr. Alexis’s work had involved helping refresh the Navy Marine Corps intranet system for the military and that the company had not been aware of Mr. Alexis’s arrest history. On Tuesday, Thomas E. Hoshko, the chief executive officer of The Experts, said that Mr. Alexis’s work had involved helping update the Navy Marine Corps intranet system for the military and that the company had not been aware of Mr. Alexis’s arrest history.
Mr. Alexis had started working for the company in September 2007 and had at that point possessed a secret clearance from the Department of Defense, Mr. Hoshko said.Mr. Alexis had started working for the company in September 2007 and had at that point possessed a secret clearance from the Department of Defense, Mr. Hoshko said.
“His colleagues and everybody that worked with him (said) this never came to the surface,” Mr. Hoshko said, referring to indications of violent behavior.“His colleagues and everybody that worked with him (said) this never came to the surface,” Mr. Hoshko said, referring to indications of violent behavior.
Mr. Alexis left the company to attend school in January 2013, Mr. Hoshko said, but returned to The Experts in July, when he again passed a drug test, a background check and had received a secret clearance from the Defense Department.Mr. Alexis left the company to attend school in January 2013, Mr. Hoshko said, but returned to The Experts in July, when he again passed a drug test, a background check and had received a secret clearance from the Defense Department.
“He told colleagues of his that school didn’t pay and he wanted to go back to work,” said Mr. Hoshko. “We were never aware of any instances or we would have never — when he finished his last contract in January — we would have never looked at him as a candidate to start in July.”“He told colleagues of his that school didn’t pay and he wanted to go back to work,” said Mr. Hoshko. “We were never aware of any instances or we would have never — when he finished his last contract in January — we would have never looked at him as a candidate to start in July.”
In the past few months, Mr. Alexis had been based in Washington while working at Naval facilities in Maryland, North Carolina, Rhode Island and Virginia. He had worked most recently in Arlington, Va., Mr. Hoshko said.In the past few months, Mr. Alexis had been based in Washington while working at Naval facilities in Maryland, North Carolina, Rhode Island and Virginia. He had worked most recently in Arlington, Va., Mr. Hoshko said.

Reporting was contributed by Abby Goodnough, Emmarie Huetteman, Thom Shanker and Joseph Goldstein from Washington, and William K. Rashbaum from New York.

Reporting was contributed by Abby Goodnough, Emmarie Huetteman, Thom Shanker and and Michael S. Schmidt from Washington, and William K. Rashbaum from New York.