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| Aaron Alexis passed recent background checks by employer and gun store | Aaron Alexis passed recent background checks by employer and gun store |
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| The company that employed the Washington navy yard gunman, Aaron Alexis said on Tuesday that his latest background check revealed only a minor traffic violation. | |
| The Experts, a defence contractor, said the check on Alexis was carried out three months ago. The company said that had it known of his two arrests for gun-related offences, it would not have employed him. | The Experts, a defence contractor, said the check on Alexis was carried out three months ago. The company said that had it known of his two arrests for gun-related offences, it would not have employed him. |
| A Virginia gun store and range said it ran a background check on Alexis before selling him a gun and ammunition on Sunday. Sharpshooters Small Arms Range said he passed the check. | A Virginia gun store and range said it ran a background check on Alexis before selling him a gun and ammunition on Sunday. Sharpshooters Small Arms Range said he passed the check. |
| Alexis, 34, killed 12 people before being shot dead on Monday. He was questioned in 2004 in Seattle, and by Texas police in 2010. No charges were brought in either case. | Alexis, 34, killed 12 people before being shot dead on Monday. He was questioned in 2004 in Seattle, and by Texas police in 2010. No charges were brought in either case. |
| The US government ordered a series of security reviews on Tuesday, as investigators attempt to find a motive for the attack. The White House announced a review of security procedures for private contractors after it emerged that Alexis had security clearance for the base. | The US government ordered a series of security reviews on Tuesday, as investigators attempt to find a motive for the attack. The White House announced a review of security procedures for private contractors after it emerged that Alexis had security clearance for the base. |
| The Experts said it hired an unnamed service to perform two background checks on Alexis and twice confirmed his secret government clearance through the Department of Defense. The latest check was made in June 2013, the company said. The Experts said it had been subcontracted by HP Enterprise services, part of Hewlett-Packard, to update and replace computers for the US navy and marine corps. | The Experts said it hired an unnamed service to perform two background checks on Alexis and twice confirmed his secret government clearance through the Department of Defense. The latest check was made in June 2013, the company said. The Experts said it had been subcontracted by HP Enterprise services, part of Hewlett-Packard, to update and replace computers for the US navy and marine corps. |
| Thomas Hoshko, chief executive of The Experts, said he would not have hired Alexis, a computer technician, had he known about his past contact with police. He said the US military should have shared more information with the company about his history. | Thomas Hoshko, chief executive of The Experts, said he would not have hired Alexis, a computer technician, had he known about his past contact with police. He said the US military should have shared more information with the company about his history. |
| Alexis came to the attention of police in Seattle and Fort Worth over separate gun-related incidents. A Seattle police report said Alexis was arrested for "malicious mischief" after he shot out the tyres of a construction worker's car near his home in 2004, in what he said was an "anger-fuelled blackout" after he felt the worker "disrespected him". | Alexis came to the attention of police in Seattle and Fort Worth over separate gun-related incidents. A Seattle police report said Alexis was arrested for "malicious mischief" after he shot out the tyres of a construction worker's car near his home in 2004, in what he said was an "anger-fuelled blackout" after he felt the worker "disrespected him". |
| In 2010, he was arrested while he was a Navy reservist in Fort Worth, after his downstairs neighbour complained he had shot a bullet through the ceiling of her apartment. The neighbour told police Alexis had complained of noise and she was "terrified" of him. He was not charged after he told police the gun went off by accident when he was cleaning it. | In 2010, he was arrested while he was a Navy reservist in Fort Worth, after his downstairs neighbour complained he had shot a bullet through the ceiling of her apartment. The neighbour told police Alexis had complained of noise and she was "terrified" of him. He was not charged after he told police the gun went off by accident when he was cleaning it. |
| In an emailed statement provided to the Guardian on Tuesday by FTI Consulting, The Experts said: "At this time, we can confirm that the suspect had been employed by The Experts for approximately six months over the last year, during which time we enlisted a service to perform two background checks and we confirmed twice through the Department of Defense his secret government clearance." | In an emailed statement provided to the Guardian on Tuesday by FTI Consulting, The Experts said: "At this time, we can confirm that the suspect had been employed by The Experts for approximately six months over the last year, during which time we enlisted a service to perform two background checks and we confirmed twice through the Department of Defense his secret government clearance." |
| Alexis had worked for The Experts in Japan, from September 2012 to January 2013. "The latest background check and security clearance confirmation were in late June of 2013 and revealed no issues other than one minor traffic violation," the statement said. | Alexis had worked for The Experts in Japan, from September 2012 to January 2013. "The latest background check and security clearance confirmation were in late June of 2013 and revealed no issues other than one minor traffic violation," the statement said. |
| Thomas Hosko, chief executive of The Experts, told Reuters Alexis had "secret clearance" and a "CAC" – common access card – but said he was unclear when the contractor was due to start work. Hosko said he was unaware of any misconduct issues involving Alexis. | Thomas Hosko, chief executive of The Experts, told Reuters Alexis had "secret clearance" and a "CAC" – common access card – but said he was unclear when the contractor was due to start work. Hosko said he was unaware of any misconduct issues involving Alexis. |
| A defence official told the Guardian that Alexis had been vetted in 2007 as a navy reservist and in March 2008 was given clearance for access to secret material. | |
| Under reciprocity rules he carried this clearance over when he became a contractor as there had been no significant break in his employment and no "unadjudicated derogatory information" had been received about him, the official said, adding that federal standards required employees at Alexis's level to be revetted only every 10 years. | |
| An attorney for the Sharpshooters Small Arms Range, Michael Slocum, said Alexis rented a rifle, bought bullets and used the range on Sunday. He then bought a shotgun and 24 shells. Authorities say he had a shotgun with him when he entered a building at the navy yard on Monday. Slocum said the store ran a federal background check on Alexis and it was approved. Law enforcement officers visited the range on Monday, reviewing video and store records. | An attorney for the Sharpshooters Small Arms Range, Michael Slocum, said Alexis rented a rifle, bought bullets and used the range on Sunday. He then bought a shotgun and 24 shells. Authorities say he had a shotgun with him when he entered a building at the navy yard on Monday. Slocum said the store ran a federal background check on Alexis and it was approved. Law enforcement officers visited the range on Monday, reviewing video and store records. |
| The navy said Alexis enlisted as a full-time reservist in May 2007. He was granted an honourable discharge in 2011 after a series of misconduct issues, a Navy official told Reuters. The Associated Press reported that the Veterans' Association had been involved in treating Alexis for a series of mental-health issues since August. The FBI said it was investigating his medical history. | The navy said Alexis enlisted as a full-time reservist in May 2007. He was granted an honourable discharge in 2011 after a series of misconduct issues, a Navy official told Reuters. The Associated Press reported that the Veterans' Association had been involved in treating Alexis for a series of mental-health issues since August. The FBI said it was investigating his medical history. |
| In a news conference on Tuesday, the FBI said Alexis was acting alone and was armed only with a shotgun when he entered the navy yard on Monday. The head of the FBI's field office in Washington, Valerie Parlave, dismissed reports that the 34-year-old used an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, the type of gun used in other recent mass shootings. She said Alexis "may have gained access to a handgun once inside the facility and after he began shooting". | In a news conference on Tuesday, the FBI said Alexis was acting alone and was armed only with a shotgun when he entered the navy yard on Monday. The head of the FBI's field office in Washington, Valerie Parlave, dismissed reports that the 34-year-old used an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, the type of gun used in other recent mass shootings. She said Alexis "may have gained access to a handgun once inside the facility and after he began shooting". |
| Parlave said the shotgun was purchased legally and added that Alexis had "legitimate access" to the navy yard. | Parlave said the shotgun was purchased legally and added that Alexis had "legitimate access" to the navy yard. |
| Washington's Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said Alexis was believed to have shot other employees from the lobby of building 197, as well as the third and fourth floors. He engaged in several firefights with police before being shot dead by armed officers. The MPD chief, Cathy Lanier, said exchanges of gunshots between Alexis and police lasted between 30 minutes and an hour, before he was killed. Both Parlave and Lanier were speaking at a press conference in Washington, outside the field FBI field office. | Washington's Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said Alexis was believed to have shot other employees from the lobby of building 197, as well as the third and fourth floors. He engaged in several firefights with police before being shot dead by armed officers. The MPD chief, Cathy Lanier, said exchanges of gunshots between Alexis and police lasted between 30 minutes and an hour, before he was killed. Both Parlave and Lanier were speaking at a press conference in Washington, outside the field FBI field office. |
| Appealing for information from the public, Parlave described the FBI's investigation as "methodical and time-intensive", involving crime-scene mapping and assessment of bullet trajectories on the site, as well as interviews with people who knew Alexis in cities across the US. Alexis, a Buddhist convert, is known to have lived in New York, Seattle and Fort Worth in recent years. | Appealing for information from the public, Parlave described the FBI's investigation as "methodical and time-intensive", involving crime-scene mapping and assessment of bullet trajectories on the site, as well as interviews with people who knew Alexis in cities across the US. Alexis, a Buddhist convert, is known to have lived in New York, Seattle and Fort Worth in recent years. |
| Parlave would not comment on reports that the gunman was receiving treatment for mental-health issues. She said: "We continue to look into Mr Alexis' past, including his medical and criminal histories." She said that the search for a motive was still under way. | Parlave would not comment on reports that the gunman was receiving treatment for mental-health issues. She said: "We continue to look into Mr Alexis' past, including his medical and criminal histories." She said that the search for a motive was still under way. |
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