Washington D.C.'s Mayor Vincent Gray now says thirteen have died in a shooting at the US Navy Yard this morning in the southeast section of Washington D.C.


LATEST:

5:45 p.m. The White House says President Barack Obama is ordering flags to be lowered to half-staff to honor victims of a shooting at the Washington Navy Yard.

Aaron Alexis
Aaron Alexis (FBI)
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4:25 p.m. The Washington Post  reports Aaron Alexis does have a military background having spent four years as a full time reservist from 2007 until 2011 stationed in Fort Worth.

4:15 p.m. - Washington Mayor Vincent Gray raised the death toll to 13 at a press conference. When asked if terrorism is behind the shooting, he said “We don’t have any reason at this stage to suspect terrorism, but certainly it has not been ruled out."

Police Chief Cathy Lanier asked residents and businesses in the area to continue sheltering in place. :We are hoping in the next couple of hours to have information one way or the other on whether we can conclusively say we have all suspects or persons involved in this accounted for," she said.

The FBI is investigating whether Aaron Alexis used the ID of  former Navy petty officer Rollie Chance to enter the Navy Yard. Relatives have said he was not at the Navy Yard today and the FBI asked the media to leave the family alone.

Valerie Parlave of the FBI said, "“This remains a very active investigation."

3:14 p.m. - Senate officials say no one is being allowed in or out of Senate buildings while authorities search for a potential second suspect in the Navy Yard shootings. Senate Sergeant at Arms Terrance Gainer said Monday that people could move around the buildings but could not leave or enter. He said he had no information to suggest the Senate, its members or staff were in danger but took the step out of an abundance of caution. The House remained open.

 

Nationals postponed
Nationals postponed (Twitter)
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3:10p.m. - The Washington Nationals game at nearby Nationals Park has been postponed."All of us here in the Nationals organization were deeply saddened to learn of the tragic events that occurred this morning only a few blocks from Nationals Park. Our thoughts and prayers remain with our friends at the Navy Yard and those impacted by today's incident," the team said in a statement.

2:43 p.m. - WRC TV identifies the deceased gunman as Aaron Alexis, 34, a Fort Worth, Texas man who worked at the Navy Yard as a civilian contractor. Identification was made by checking fingerprints. Alexis apparently used the identification of a man who used to work at the base to get past security according to the New York Daily News.

The white male being sought is not a suspect nor a person of interest according to Washington Police.

2:33 p.m. - Manager Davey Johnson expects the Washington Nationals game to be played as scheduled despite being near the Washington D.C. Navy Yard.

2:13 p.m. - Metropolitan Police Chief Cathy Lanier offered an update on the suspects in the case. One is a white man, age 40-50 wearing a beret. The other is a black man, age 40-50 with gray sideburns wearing olive. Anyone with information about the suspects should call 1800-CALL-FBI. “Right now, we have multiple pieces of information that would suggest we have at least two other individuals seen with firearms,” Lanier said.

There are still people in Building 197 in the Navy Yard where the shootings too place.

2:12 p.m. - Lanier says a motive is not known for the shooting and that the FBI is taking the lead in the investigation.

 

A police helicopter circles around above the Washington Navy Yard
A police helicopter circles around above the Washington Navy Yard (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
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2:07 p.m. - Washington D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray confirms 12 fatalities in the shooting at the Washington D.C. Navy Yard

1:48 p.m. - NBC reports that seven people have been killed in the Navy Yard shooting

1:33 p.m. - A number media outlets that posted the name of a suspect have since withdrawn the name.

New information has not come out about the shooting; Helicopters continue to circle the Yard and  a press conference will take place around 3 p.m.

12:42 p.m. - President Obama said of the shooting, ""These are men and women who were going to work, doing their job and protecting all of us." The President promised to make sure, quote, "whoever carried out this cowardly act is held responsible."

12:17 p.m.- Metropolitan Police Chief Cathy Lanier says they are looking for two other possible shooters: a white male wearing  khaki, military-style uniform and a black male in his 50s wearing olive military style uniform.

Lanier would not offer a hard number of wounded and killed.

 

12:04 p.m. - Navy officials: At least 6 dead in Navy Yard shooting.

11:56 a.m. - A witness describes "panic' at the Naval Yard when shots rang out. Patricia Ward tells the Philadelphia Inquirer people ran when she heard shots coming from the atrium.

Dr. Janis Orlowski addresses the media about victims at the Washingon Medical Center
Dr. Janis Orlowski addresses the media about victims at the Washingon Medical Center (WRC TV)
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11:55 a.m. - The Navy says people looking for information about loved ones can call 202-433-6151 or 202-433-9713.

11:44 a.m. - Dr. Janis Orlowski, Chief Medical Officer at the Washington Hospital Center reports three people are dead at the Navy Yard.

Orlowski says three victims: a male police officer and two female civilians,  were brought to her hospital and were alert, responsive and able to speak with police. “Their chances for survival are very good,” Orlowski said.

WRC TV  reports that the gunman walked into the building, shot the guard and seemed to be targeting specific people. At least one shooter has die.

 

Reports of a shooting at nearby Bolling Air Force base have been called false by Metropolitan Police.

11:40 a.m. - Naval District Washington confirms two shooters "are down" and that multiple people have been killed.

11:34 a.m. - More conflicting information on the number of gunmen: Washington Police (Metropolitan Police) confirm only one shooter; the Pentagon and Navy are confirming three.

Employees in a parking garage at the Washington Nationals stadium to reunite with loved ones
Employees in a parking garage at the Washington Nationals stadium to reunite with loved ones (Twitter)
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11:31 a.m. - CNN reports two gunmen are "down."

11:30 a.m. - 8 people were killed when one or more people opened fire according  WJLA TVWRC TV reports 4 officers including Washington Police and Naval Police officers were injured.

11:27 a.m. - WRC TV reports two law enforcement sources say the gunman is dead

11:20 a.m. - President Obama will make a statement about the shooting according to WUSA TV. He has been briefed throughout the morning on the situation.

11:19 a.m. - Helicopters that appeared to be taking victims from buildings now seem do be conducting a search of the area reports WRC TV.

11:13 a.m. -  WRC TV reports police have entered a second building at the Navy Yard where gunfire was heard.

11:01 a.m. - Police confirm two shooters according to the Washington Post.

10:56 a.m. - Additional gunfire has been heard inside a building at the Navy Yard according to  WRC TV.

10:44 a.m. - CBS News reports 6 dead. WJLA TV says there is no suspect in custody; there are conflicting reports about how many shooters are involved.

10:37 a.m. -Ed Buclatin, the public affairs chief for the Navy Installations Command, tweeted “four killed and eight injured.”

10:30 a.m. - WRC TV says 40 people have been received at a medical triage set up at the gates of the Navy Yard. The station also reports that six nearby schools are on lockdown.

10:29 a.m. - Washington reporter Patrick Madden tweets: Witness described shooter aiming down from fourth floor at people on first floor in atrium.

10:27 a.m. - A Navy spokesperson tells the Washington Post they cannot confirm a report of multiple shooters, but they’re not dismissing it either.

10:22 a.m. - WRC TV reports that the ground stop at Reagan National Airport has been lifted. The station also reports public transportation buses are being sent in to take Yard employees out of the area.

10:18 a.m. - The Washington Post reports three shooters involved in the Navy Yard shooting, one of which is "down." The AP describes one of the gunmen as being "contained."  2 others remain at large. One is dressed in fatigues; at least one of the shooters has a "long gun."

10:12 a.m. - Several helicopters have been seen taking people out of a building in the Yard according to  WRC TV.

Helcopter about the Navy Yard
Helcopter about the Navy Yard (WRC TV)
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10:11 a.m. - Washington DC's NBC affiliate WRC TV reports a dozen shot, four killed and eight injured according to a senior naval official. The gunman has reportedly been taken into custody.

10:08 a.m. - WRC TV reports 10 people have been shot. Only one gunman is involved.

10:06 a.m. - One of the victims was lifted into a Park Service helicopter and airlifted out of the Navy Yard from a rooftop according to  WRC TV.

10:04 a.m. - Police say the shooter is pinned down between the third and fourth floors of a building on the base according to the Washington Post

9:57 a.m. - Navy Yard employee tells the  Washington Post he heard “blam, blam” inside building, then someone pulled the fire alarm. WJLA TV reports the gunman had a handgun and an assault rifle.

9:52 a.m.- Departing flights from Reagan National Airport will be grounded until at least 10:30 a.m.

9:51 a.m. - Police describe the suspect at an adult black male with a medium complexion, 6 foot tall and bald.

9:49 a.m. - Washington Post reports that the gunman has barricaded himself in a room

9:42 a.m. - NBC News reports seven people including 2 law enforcement officers have been shot. WJLA reports he is using a double barrel shotgun.

9:40 a.m. - Flights are being held at Reagan National Airport according to the FAA.

9:32 a.m. - WJLA TV reports 4 shooting victims according to Washington Police as the manhunt for a gunman continues.

9:15 a.m. -  Washington's WJLA TV posted a picture of one man being tended to at New Jersey Avenue and M Street.

Shooting victim being tended to by commuters at NJ Avenue and M Street
Shooting victim being tended to by commuters at NJ Avenue and M Street (Twitter)
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3 shots were fired at around 8:20 a.m. inside the Naval Sea Systems Command at the facilit

Shots are still being fired at the Yard according to the Washington Post  which reports at least 4 victims including an officer shot in both legs.

 

A "shelter-in-place" order is in place at the Navy Yard as police search for the shooter on the grounds of the Yard. Law enforcement have closed off a number of streets around the Yard which is along I-695 as they search for the gunman.

3,000 people work at the historic Yard according to the Navy.

The Washington Navy Yard says on its website that it's the Navy's oldest shore establishment and nicknamed the "Quarterdeck of the Navy."  It's home to the chief of Naval Operations and is also headquarters for the Naval Historical Center and numerous naval commands.




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