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Chattanooga shooting: Four Marines dead after gunman opens fire at military facilities Chattanooga shooting: Four Marines dead after gunman opens fire at military facilities
(about 2 hours later)
Four Marines were killed and at least one was inured after a gunman opened fire at two military facilities in Tennessee. Officials said they were considering the attack and incident of domestic terrorism. The US was on a heightened state of alert on Thursday and officials were investigating whether a man who attacked two military offices in Chattanooga and killed four Marines, may have been inspired by Islamic extremists.
The sole gunman, who was able to fire up to 30 shots, was killed by police officers. US media outlets said officials had named the suspect as 24-year-old Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez. The Associated Press said Ms Abdulazeez, said to be from Hixson, Tennessee, which is just a few miles across the river from Chattanooga. was believed to have been born in Kuwait. It unclear whether he was a US or Kuwaiti citizen. There was no official confirmation of the suspect's name. It was announced that the Joint Terrorism Task Force had joined the probe into the attack as US media named the suspect as Mohammod Youssuf Abdulazeez, 24.
"We are treating this as an act of domestic terrorism," said Bill Killian, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee, adding that no official determination of the nature of the crime had yet been made. Officials initially said said they were considering the attack to be an incident of domestic terrorism. Mr Abdulazeez, an engineering graduate, is said to be a naturalised American who was born in Kuwait.
The four Marines were killed when shots were fired in a Navy reserve center in the city. The wounded Marine was hit by gunfire fired at an Armed Forces recruiting center not far away, officials said. There was no official confirmation of the suspect’s name. No-one answered the phone at his address. In a possible echo of the May attack by two men in Garland, Texas, Reuters said officials were investigating whether the Chattanooga gunman had been inspired by Isis.
"Lives have been lost from some faithful people who have been serving our country, and I think I join all Tennesseans in being both sickened and saddened by this," said Governor Bill Haslam. Cops taking cover after a shooter opened at military offices in Chattanooga
"While it would be premature to speculate on the motives of the shooter at this time, we will conduct a thorough investigation of this tragedy and provide updates as they are available," the FBI said in a statement.
On Thursday afternoon, as police Swat teams raided the suspect’s home in Hixson, just a few miles across the river from Chattanooga. Jeh Johnson, head of the Department of Homeland Security said that security at federal facilities had been raised out on an abundance of caution.
The gunman, who was able to fire up to 30 shots, was killed by police officers, in the incident that began at around 10.10am on Thursday morning.
“We are treating this as an act of domestic terrorism,” said Bill Killian, the US Attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee, adding that no official determination of the nature of the crime had yet been made.
The Marines were killed when shots were fired in a Navy reserve centre in the city. The wounded Marine was hit by gunfire fired at an Armed Forces recruiting centre not far away.
The scene at Erlanger hospital in Chattanooga: pic.twitter.com/mH3yl3eM9tThe scene at Erlanger hospital in Chattanooga: pic.twitter.com/mH3yl3eM9t
One witness told ABC: "It was just another regular day. He pulled up and I didn't think anything of it. He had his drop-top. He lifted a big black gun. It was one shot and then it was endless shots." “Lives have been lost from some faithful people who have been serving our country, and I think I join all Tennesseans in being both sickened and saddened by this,“ said Governor Bill Haslam.
Another witness, Erica Wright, said: “We heard a loud pop and the salon owner and I went to the window to see what was going on, we saw a silver, convertible, mustang, he was just unloading some type of large rifle." One witness told ABC News: “It was just another regular day. He pulled up and I didn't think anything of it. He had his drop-top. He lifted a big black gun. It was one shot and then it was endless shots.”
Another witness, Erica Wright, said: “We heard a loud pop and the salon owner and I went to the window to see what was going on, we saw a silver, convertible, mustang, he was just unloading some type of large rifle.“
She added: “Initially, I saw her coming to the door, and I was telling her to go back. I just pulled off because I knew he had saw me and I didn’t want to get hit… so I pulled off and went to where people were trying to escape at the back of the building to see if she would be coming out through the back.”She added: “Initially, I saw her coming to the door, and I was telling her to go back. I just pulled off because I knew he had saw me and I didn’t want to get hit… so I pulled off and went to where people were trying to escape at the back of the building to see if she would be coming out through the back.”
Report said three other people were wounded in the attacks that began at about 10.45am. local time and ended about 30 minutes later.
Chattanooga Police Chief Fred Fletcher told reporters the gunman acted "brutally and brazenly", according to Reuters.Chattanooga Police Chief Fred Fletcher told reporters the gunman acted "brutally and brazenly", according to Reuters.
Witnesses said the gunman, driving an open-top Ford Mustang, fired at two locations about six miles. People said they heard scores of shots.Witnesses said the gunman, driving an open-top Ford Mustang, fired at two locations about six miles. People said they heard scores of shots.
A White House spokesman said President Barack Obama had been told about the shooting.A White House spokesman said President Barack Obama had been told about the shooting.
"The President has been briefed by his national security staff on the Chattanooga shooting, and will continue to get updates as warranted," said spokesman Eric Schultz."The President has been briefed by his national security staff on the Chattanooga shooting, and will continue to get updates as warranted," said spokesman Eric Schultz.