The attack by a gunman at the Navy Yard in Washington, D.C. was not a terrorist attack, according to initial word from the Department of Homeland Security, but there were conflicting reports of more than one gunman involved.
Washington Navy Yard aerial view
Fox News reported that there might have been as many as two others involved in the attack.
One suspect was killed in the attack, but it was not clear whether he was killed by responding police or if he took his own life. There was a gunfight between the shooter and one District of Columbia police officer, who was wounded several times, WTOP said.
WTOP reported that a dozen people had been shot, and that eight people were killed.
As the investigation unfolded, there was some faulty information released by reporters, which seems to be a repeat problem with broadcast news reports dealing with mass shootings. At one point, a CBS affiliate covering the event had to retract initial reports that named a gunman.
This was similar to what occurred in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook school attack last December, when some reports named the brother of gunman Adam Lanza as the suspect.
The Navy Yard attack began at about 8:30 a.m. on the morning of Sept. 16, and schools in the area went quickly into lock-down. There were also reports that airplanes at Reagan National Airport were temporarily held on the ground.
Streets in the area were also closed down.
Published reports suggest the dead suspect was armed with some sort of long gun and a handgun. Reports also suggest that the suspect may have been retired military, but even could not be confirmed.
Surprisingly, there was no quick rush to microphones by gun control proponents trying to exploit the incident, probably because it occurred at a military installation. About 3,000 people work at the Navy Yard, formally identified as the Naval Sea Systems Command headquarters. It is a huge complex and police were going building-to-building to make sure they were all clear and secure.
Published reports said the gunman opened fire from the fourth floor of one building, identified as Building 197.
Witnesses told reporters that the gunman was dressed in all blue. He was encountered by some personnel inside the building in a long hallway and, apparently without saying a word, opened fire.
The wounded were evacuated to nearby hospitals.
President Barack Obama said the attack targeted “patriots,” according to NBC News.
