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Deadly shooting at Pensacola naval base
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What you need to know about the Pensacola naval base shooting
A gunman killed at least three people at the Naval Air Station Pensacola in Florida this morning.
Here’s what we know about the shooting:
- What happened: Authorities first received a call about an active shooter at naval base around 6:51 a.m., Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan told reporters. The shooting occurred in a classroom building, authorities said. The shooter used a handgun and was killed after two deputies exchanged gunfire with him.
- The victims: Three people were killed in the shooting and at least eight others were injured and taken to a local hospital, authorities said. The deputies who confronted the shooter also suffered gunshot wounds — one in the arm and one in the knee. Both are expected to survive.
- The suspect: The gunman, who was killed, has been identified as Saudi Arabian national Mohammed Alshamrani. He was a member of the Saudi Arabian military training at the station, five US defense officials and another person familiar with the investigation told CNN.
- The FBI is investigating: Investigators are looking into whether the shooting was terror-related as a possible motive, but it’s still early in the investigation. The investigation is global in scope, a law enforcement source told CNN, with agents posted in Riyadh tasked with liaising with the Saudi government to obtain background information about the shooter.
- President Trump in contact with Saudi king: Trump said he spoke with the King of Saudi Arabia about the shooting. “The King said that the Saudi people are greatly angered by the barbaric actions of the shooter, and that this person in no way shape or form represents the feelings of the Saudi people who love the American people,” Trump tweeted.
Pensacola shooter was training in the US for 2 years
The suspected shooter was training at the US Naval Air Station in Pensacola for two years, according to Defense Department spokesperson Christopher Garver.
Two law enforcement sources tell CNN the suspect’s name is Mohammed Alshamrani.
Alshamrani’s training began in August 2017 and was scheduled to conclude in August next year, Garver said. His training program included English language training, basic aviation, and initial pilot training. The training was funded by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Alshamrani was vetted upon entry to the US and checked again after the shooting with nothing of concern found, a law enforcement source told CNN.
More information on foreign students training in the US: As of Dec. 6, 2019, the Department of Defense has 5,181 foreign students from 153 countries in the United States for Department of Defense security cooperation related training. The Department of Defense has 852 Saudis in the US for Department of Defense security cooperation related training activities.
Defense Secretary vows to assist those affected by shootings at two naval bases
Secretary of Defense Mark Esper vowed to assist service members and staff affected by the shootings this week at two separate naval bases.
“To all our sailors, soldiers, airmen, and marines, and civilian personnel, we stand ready to assist and make resources available to deal with the grief in the aftermath of these tragedies as well as life’s challenges in general,” he said.
On Wednesday, a US sailor killed two civilians and himself at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard in Hawaii. Investigators have yet to identify motives in either shooting.
This morning, a gunman killed at least three people and injured several others at the Naval Air Station Pensacola in Florida.
Read the rest of Esper’s statement:
Saudi foreign ministry: Pensacola shooting suspect "does not represent the Saudi people whatsoever"
The Saudi foreign ministry issued a statement today expressing its deep “distress” regarding the deadly shooting at the Naval Air Station Pensacola in Florida, Saudi Press Agency [SAP] reported.
The ministry said it “affirms that the perpetrator of this horrific attack does not represent the Saudi people whatsoever. The American people are held in the highest regard by the Saudi people.”
Pensacola shooter identified as Saudi national
The suspected shooter at the Naval Air Station Pensacola in Florida has been identified as Saudi national Mohammed Alshamrani, two law enforcement sources told CNN.
The shooter was a member of the Saudi military training at US Naval Air Station in Pensacola, authorities said. He died in the shooting.
FBI's Pensacola probe is global, with agents in Saudi Arabia working on it
The FBI’s probe into the Pensacola shooting is now a global investigation, a law enforcement source told CNN.
The source said the bureau has now tasked its agents posted full-time in Riyadh with liaising with the Saudi Arabian government to obtain background information on the shooter.
The suspected shooter, who died in the shooting, was a member of the Saudi military training at US Naval Air Station in Pensacola.
Saudi king orders his security services to cooperate with the US following Florida shooting
Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud expressed his “deep sadness and sorrow” in a phone call with the US President Donald Trump on Friday after he received the news about “a Saudi student shooting incident in Florida, which resulted in the death and injury of a number of American citizens,” according to Saudi state-run SPA news.
The Saudi king “offered his sincere condolences” to Trump and family members of the victims, SPA said.
The king stressed to Trump that he ordered “Saudi security services to cooperate with the relevant American agencies to access all information that helps in revealing the circumstances of this incident,” SPA added.
President Trump has also confirmed that the two spoke on the phone.
Watch here:
Trump on shooting: "It's a horrible thing that took place"
President Trump called today’s deadly shooting at the Naval Air Station Pensacola in Florida “horrible” and “terrible.”
The President also read a statement from King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud of Saudi Arabia. Officials have said that the suspect was part of the Saudi Air Force.
Trump said the King expressed that “the Saudi people are greatly angered by the barbaric actions of the shooter and that this person in no way, shape or form represents the feelings of the Saudi people who love the American be people so much.”
Names of shooting victims will not be publicly released until 24 hours after next of kin are notified
Naval Air Station Pensacola (NAS) in Florida said the names of victims will not be released until 24-hours after next of kin have been notified, according to a tweet they sent this afternoon.
Four people are confirmed dead, including the shooter. Multiple other people were injured.
NAS Pensacola is still closed for oncoming traffic.
Read the tweet below:
Trump says he spoke with Saudi king about the Pensacola shooting
President Trump said he spoke with the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud of Saudi Arabia about the shooting in Pensacola, Florida.
The President said King Salman criticized the “barbaric actions” of the suspected shooter, who was a Saudi national training at the US Naval Air Station in Pensacola and died in the shooting.
Sheriff says suspect used a handgun
Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan said that the suspect in the naval station shooting used a handgun in today’s attack.
Morgan would not confirm other information about the shooter including his name or whether a room on campus was raided as part of the ongoing investigation.
Acting Navy Secretary: "These acts are crimes against all of us"
Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas B. Modly released a statement about the two separate shootings that have occurred at naval bases this week.
Modly’s statement addresses today’s fatal shooting in Pensacola, Florida, as well as Wednesday’s shooting on the Pearl Harbor naval shipyard in Hawaii as well as an incident in Little Creek, Virginia.
Read the full statement below:
Suspected shooter was in aviation training, official says
The suspected gunman in today’s shooting at Naval Air Station Pensacola in Florida was in aviation training, Capt. Tim Kinsella said at a news conference.
About the shooter: Five US defense officials and another person familiar with the investigation told CNN a member of the Saudi military training at US Naval Air Station in Pensacola is the suspected shooter in today’s incident.
At least four people were killed, including the suspected gunman, in the shooting.
Captain: There was "real heroism" today
Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan said there is going to be a lengthy investigation following today’s shooting.
“You can be proud of your community, and you can be proud of your Navy,” he said.
“We are in recovery mode right now,” Morgan said.
NAS Pensacola Commanding Officer, Captain Tim Kinsella, said he is “in awe” of the responders during the shooting, saying there was “real heroism” today.
Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson said this is a tragic day for the city. “This is a community of great resiliency,” he said. “The city will bounce back and be stronger.”
Florida governor on the shooting: "This is a dark day for a very great place"
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said “this is a dark day for a very great place,” noting he is a Navy veteran.
DeSantis mentioned the suspect’s ties to the Saudi Air Force and said he spoke to the President about this connection.
Authorities are speaking at news conference right now about the shooting.
You can follow along here or watch it live in the video player above.
President Trump says he's monitoring the shooting
President Trump has been briefed on the shooting at Naval Air Station Pensacola in Florida.
He took to Twitter to say that he is monitoring the situation.
Read his tweet:
Officials are allowing some personnel to exit the base
Some personnel will be allowed to exit the installation via the west gate, according to posts on the Naval Air Station Pensacola social media accounts.
The base is closed until further notice.
FBI takes over the shooting investigation
The FBI has taken over investigation into the shooting at the Naval Air Station Pensacola in Florida, according to an FBI spokesperson.
The FBI’s Evidence Response Team has arrived on site and has begun processing the scene, a law enforcement source told CNN.
What we know about the shooting: A total of four people died in the shooting, including the shooter, who has not been identified. Several other people were injured.
Two deputies from Escambia County Sheriff’s Office “negated” the shooter, according to the sheriff. One was shot in the knee and the other in the shoulder, but both are expected to make a full recovery.
Saudi national suspected in shooting at Pensacola naval air station
A member of the Saudi military training at US Naval Air Station in Pensacola is the suspected shooter in today’s incident, according to five US defense officials and another person familiar with the investigation.
The investigators are looking into whether it was terror-related, but it is early in the probe.
CNN has reached out to the Saudi embassy in the US and has not heard back.
This is the second shooting at a US naval base this week
The fatal shooting at Naval Air Station Pensacola in Florida this morning is the second shooting at an American naval base this week.
On Wednesday, a US sailor killed two civilians and himself at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard in Hawaii.
Investigators have yet to identify motives in either shooting.
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