UPDATED: Four Marines Dead in Chattanooga Shooting, Three Injured

July 16, 2015 3:40 PM - Updated: July 16, 2015 5:48 PM
Law enforcement officials outside of Naval Operations Support Center Chattanooga.
Law enforcement officials outside of Naval Operations Support Center Chattanooga.

This post will be updated as new information becomes available.

Four Marines were killed and three others — including a police officer — were injured in a series of Thursday shootings at a Navy support center and a joint recruiting station in Chattanooga, Tenn., the U.S. Marines annouced on Thursday.

“The Marine Corps can confirm four Marine fatalities today at the Navy and Marine Corps Reserve Center in Chattanooga, TN. Names of these Marines will be released upon notification of the next of kin,” read the statement.
“We can also confirm one Marine Corps recruiter sustained a wound to the leg while working at the Chattanooga recruiting office. The recruiter was treated at a local hospital and has been released.”

The suspected lone shooter is believed to be dead following the two incidents that began about 11:45 A.M. EST and lasted for about 30 minutes.

The four Marines were killed at the Naval Operations Support Center Chattanooga, which primarily serves members of the Navy Reserve in the region, on the second stop in the spree.

The Marine Corps can confirm four Marine fatalities at the Navy & Marine Corps Reserve Center in Chattanooga, TN. Names…

Posted by U.S. Marine Corps on Thursday, July 16, 2015

Several news agencies identified the shooter as Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez. The FBI and local authorities are continuing to investigate the incident and have not ruled out any motivation for the shootings.

“We have not determined whether it was an act of terrorism or if it was a criminal act, FBI Special Agent Ed Reinhold said during a Thursday press conference.

The suspected shooter was killed by authorities who “actively and enthusiastically engaged this brazen criminal,” said Chattanooga police chief Fred Fletcher.

Sam LaGrone

Sam LaGrone

Sam LaGrone is the editor of USNI News. He has covered legislation, acquisition and operations for the Sea Services since 2009 and spent time underway with the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and the Canadian Navy.
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