Washington: Three gunmen on Monday went on the rampage in the high-security Washington Navy Yard located a short distance from the White House, killing 12 people and injuring several others in an audacious mass shooting. One of the gunmen was shot dead and police said they were looking for other two gunmen who were believed to be at large and dressed in military-style clothing.
At least 12 people were killed in the shooting, Washington DC Mayor Vincent Gray and Police chief Cathy Lanier said. "We are confirming 12 fatalities. We had a few additional victims who were injured. They were not fatally injured," Lanier said. "Right now we have multiple pieces of information to suggest that we had at least two other people seen with firearms. ... These are people that we believe are involved in some way," Lanier said. "The first is for a white male between 40 and 50 years of age... wearing military uniform consistent with a naval uniform and a beret style hat," she said. "We also have a lookout for a black male between the ages of 40 and 50 in an olive military style uniform."
Earlier, Lanier told a news conference that one of the shooters was dead and authorities were searching for a white man and a black man. "The big concern for us right now is that we have potentially two other shooters that we have not located at this point," Lanier said. "We have no information to believe that either of these folks are military personnel, but we do have information that those individuals are wearing military-style uniforms," she said. Lanier said there is no indication of a possible motive at this time. ABC News reported a gunman, identified as a 50-year-old Navy employee whose employment status had "recently changed", had died at the scene.
Speaking at the White House, President Barack Obama called for a seamless investigation by federal and local authorities and promised to bring those responsible for the attack to justice. Terming it "yet another mass shooting" in the US, Obama said his administration would make sure that "whoever carried out this cowardly act is held responsible." Hundreds of police and naval personnel surrounded the Naval Sea Systems Command headquarters, where about 3,000 service members, civilians and contractors work. The yard is located less than five kilometres from the White House.
Security at the Capitol was enhanced and several nearby schools and offices were locked down. The shooting reportedly began at about 8:20 am when several shots were heard from inside the yard which maintains warships and submarines for the navy. Security agents rushed to the scene of firing and a US Park Police helicopter was seen hovering over the yard. Admiral Jonathan W Greenert, the chief of Naval Operations, and his wife were evacuated to the Pentagon from his residence at the yard soon after the shooting began, officials said.
Two law enforcement officials were among the killed. Officials at MedStar Washington Hospital Center said a police officer was among three persons with gunshot wounds brought to the trauma center by helicopter. The police officer suffered multiple gunshot wounds to his legs, a female civilian was shot in the head and hand, and another woman was being treated for a shoulder wound, said chief medical officer Janis Orlowski. All three were in critical condition but their chances for survival were "very good", she said. Earlier, police spokesman Chris Kelly described one of the suspects as an adult male, about six feet tall with a bald head and medium complexion, dressed in a black top and black jeans.
