Marines Dead In Possible ‘Domestic Terrorism’ At Tenn. Military Sites

Police officers enter the Armed Forces Career Center through a bullet-riddled door after a gunman opened fire on the building Thursday, July 16, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Authorities say there were multiple casualt... Police officers enter the Armed Forces Career Center through a bullet-riddled door after a gunman opened fire on the building Thursday, July 16, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Authorities say there were multiple casualties including the gunman. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) MORE LESS
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UPDATED: 3: 24 PM ET

Four Marines and a gunman were killed in shootings at multiple military sites in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Mayor Andy Berke announced at a Thursday afternoon press conference. The gunman was believed to have acted alone.

“It is incomprehensible to see what happened and the way that individuals who proudly serve our country were treated,” Berke said. “This is, as I said, a nightmare for the City of Chattanooga, one to which we will respond.”

According to Bill Killian, U.S. attorney for the eastern district of Tennessee, “We are conducting this (investigation) as an act of domestic terrorism.”

Authorities released little information about the gunman, but Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Knoxville Division Ed Reinhold said he may have been local.

“We believe he’s probably from this area or at least residing in this area prior to the event,” Reinhold said. “We are looking into every possible avenue, whether it was terrorism, whether it was domestic, international, or whether it was a simple criminal act.”

The attacks took place at the Naval and Marine Reserve Center on Amnicola highway and the Navy Recruiting Center on Lee highway.

A police officer who was shot in the leg remained in stable condition at a local hospital, according to NBC’s Chattanooga affiliate WRBC.

Berke announced earlier Thursday that there had been a “horrific incident in our community.”

The U.S. Navy confirmed that the shooting occurred at its Reserve Center on Amnicola Highway, after initially announcing that there was no shooting at that location.

Several locations, including Chattanooga State Community College, Lee University and Erlanger Hospital, were temporarily placed on lockdown.

According to WTVC’s Drew Bollea, who was on the scene, police closed down a section of Amnicola Highway and were diverting traffic from the area. He reported hearing a half-dozen shots in rapid succession and witnessing about 30 emergency vehicles heading to the scene.

This post has been updated.

Notable Replies

  1. Wow…I know people that work there. I hope they are ok.

  2. Nothing to worry about. That’s just the Good Guy with a Gun getting in some target practice.

  3. I don’t understand this term, “active shooter.” Aren’t all shooters active, otherwise they are not shooting. In that regard, aren’t we all inactive shooters? Can someone explain?

  4. Hot-water heater
    Batshit-crazy Teapartier

  5. Avatar for vonq vonq says:

    Apparently the shooter is too lazy to drive to Texas and take a chance on dying for his beliefs while Army is in full exercise mode.

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