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Two military facilities in Chattanooga attacked in shootings Multiple fatalities after shootings at two military facilities in Chattanooga
(35 minutes later)
At least two military facilities in Tennessee were attacked in shootings on Thursday, including one at a Navy recruiting building, officials have said. A number of military personnel have been killed in attacks on two facilities in Tennessee, governor Bill Haslam said on Thursday.
Chattanooga mayor Andy Berke said at a news conference that it was a “very terrible situation”. He did not release any other details. Berke said there was “an officer down” at a military reserve center, believed to be the Navy Operational Support Center and Marine Corps Reserve Center. Haslam did not say how many people were killed or provide further details about who was among the dead.
Chattanooga police said the active shooting was now over. But there was no immediate word on what had happened to the suspect or suspects. At least two military facilities in Tennessee were attacked in shootings, including one at a naval recruiting building, officials have said.
Chattanooga mayor Andy Berke said it was a “very terrible situation” and a “horrific incident in our community”, and offered prayers “to all those affected”.
Berke said there was “an officer down” at a military reserve center, believed to be the Navy Operational Support Center and Marine Corps Reserve Center. He did not release any other details.
Chattanooga police said the active shooting was now over. Sources told CBS News that the suspect was dead.
Police said in a tweet: “Active shooter situation is over. Details forthcoming.”Police said in a tweet: “Active shooter situation is over. Details forthcoming.”
Police have set up a command post near one of the sites. It was not immediately clear how many people may have been hurt, or how many shooters may have been involved. There were no reports of a suspect being apprehended. The shooting is believed to have begun at the Armed Forces Career Center on Lee Highway, Chattanooga. Gina Mule, a witness at the Lee Highway location, told CNN that she saw a white male in a silver convertible Ford Mustang with a gun.
Law enforcement officials told recruiters at a facility seven miles (11 kilometers) away on Old Lee Highway that they were also attacked by a shooter in a car. The shooter stopped in front of the recruiting facility, shot at the building and drove off, said Brian Lepley, a spokesman with the US army recruiting command in Fort Knox, Kentucky. “He had a big, big high-powered rifle. He was opening fire, the Air Force, Marines and Navy offices,” Mule told CNN.
Mule said she saw the man reload his rifle and then drive away.
Law enforcement officials told recruiters that they were attacked by a shooter in a car. The shooter stopped in front of the recruiting facility, shot at the building and drove off, said Brian Lepley, a spokesman with the US army recruiting command in Fort Knox, Kentucky.
Television images of a door to the center in a strip mall showed more than a dozen bullet holes in the glass.Television images of a door to the center in a strip mall showed more than a dozen bullet holes in the glass.
The army recruiters at the facility told Lepley they were not hurt and had evacuated; Lepley said he had no information about recruiters for the other branches at the facility. The army recruiters at the facility told Lepley they were not hurt and had been evacuated; Lepley said he had no information about recruiters for the other branches at the facility.
An active duty army recruiter in said he was at his office when someone opened fire and he heard 30 to 50 shots.
“We heard one single shot, which kind of sparked our attention. Shortly after that, just a few seconds, the shooter began shooting more rounds. We realized it was an actual shooting, so we then initiated our active shooter drill: getting down low to the ground, moving to a safe location. And we waited until everything seemed to be clear.” He said he did not see the gunman or a vehicle.
Shortly after, there were reports of a shooting at a naval reserve center about six miles away on Amnicola Highway. The US Navy confirmed on Twitter that a shooting had occurred there.
Victims were taken to Erlanger Hospital, which had been placed on lockdown.
A shopping mall, two nearby colleges and the Tennessee Governor’s mansion were all also placed on lockdown in the immediate aftermath of the incident.
A temporary flight restriction was placed over Chattanooga while police searched for the suspect. The Department of Homeland Security reportedly activated its Chattanooga Strike Team. The Chattanooga Police were joined in responding to the incident by the Tennessee State Police, the FBI and the ATF.
Police set up a command post near one of the sites. It was not immediately clear how many people may have been hurt, or how many shooters may have been involved.
Chattanooga State Community College said in a tweet and on its website that a shooting was confirmed near the campus and that everyone should stay inside and close doors. The campus was on lockdown.Chattanooga State Community College said in a tweet and on its website that a shooting was confirmed near the campus and that everyone should stay inside and close doors. The campus was on lockdown.
Loretta Blevins, head server at the Track’s End restaurant about a half-mile down the road from the shooting, said there were about 16 people huddled inside the restaurant. She said emergency vehicles were streaming up and down the road.Loretta Blevins, head server at the Track’s End restaurant about a half-mile down the road from the shooting, said there were about 16 people huddled inside the restaurant. She said emergency vehicles were streaming up and down the road.
A woman who said she witnessed the shooting said she heard a barrage of gunfire near one of the shooting sites.
“It was rapid fire, like ‘pow pow pow pow’, so quickly. The next thing I knew there were police cars coming from every direction,” said Marilyn Hutcheson, who works at Binswanger Glass.
Hutcheson said she ran inside, where she remained with other employees and a customer. The gunfire continued with occasional bursts, she estimated, for 20 minutes.
“We’re apprehensive,” Hutcheson said. “Not knowing what transpired, if it was a grievance or terroristic related, we just don’t know.”
Barack Obama was briefed by his national security team on the shooting while in Oklahoma to speak about criminal justice reform at a federal prison.Barack Obama was briefed by his national security team on the shooting while in Oklahoma to speak about criminal justice reform at a federal prison.
White House spokesman Eric Schultz says that the president would continue getting updates from his staff as needed.White House spokesman Eric Schultz says that the president would continue getting updates from his staff as needed.
The Associated Press contributed to this report