The gunman was killed after a shootout with police at the second facility, authorities said. It was not immediately clear whether police killed him or he killed himself.
The gunman was identified as Mohammod Youssuf Abdulazeez, 24. He is a naturalized U.S. citizen from Kuwait, a senior federal official said.
"Today is a nightmare for the city of Chattanooga," Mayor Andy Berke said.
Authorities offered no immediate information on a motive. Bill Killian, the top federal prosecutor for eastern Tennessee, said the attack was being investigated as an act of domestic terrorism.
The shootings began at around 10:45 a.m. and occurred over about 30 minutes and six miles apart, first at a military recruitment station and then at a Navy and Marines reserve center. A defense official said the gunman used an automatic weapon.
The Marines were killed at the reserve center. The Marine Corps said their names would be released after their relatives were notified.
President Barack Obama said all the details are not yet known but pledged a thorough and prompt investigation.
"My main message right now is obviously the deepest sympathies of the American people to the four marines that have been killed," he said. "I'd ask all Americans to pray for the families," Obama said.
The gunman fired 25 to 30 rounds at the recruitment station, a U.S. military official said. The doors were riddled with bullet holes. People there fled through the back of the building.
Berke said police rushed from all over the city to confront the shooter. "They were engaging him as he went to the second facility, to stop him. Despite all that he kept going," Berke said.
"This was certainly a horrific, awful, very directed attack," he said.
Two military personnel were wounded in addition to the police officer. The police officer was shot in the ankle and taken to a hospital. A Marine recruiter was shot in the leg and was treated and released. The condition of the two victims that remained at Erlanger Hospital were not released.
"Lives have been lost from some faithful people who have been serving our country, and I think I join all Tennesseans in being both sickened and saddened by this," Gov. Bill Haslam said.
Authorities said they had no reason to believe anyone else was involved in the shooting. They also said there was no intelligence indicating the attack ahead of time. Several defense officials said there was still change in alert status for U.S. military installations.
Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said security is being increased at certain federal facilities "out of an abundance of caution."
U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch called the attack a "shameful and cowardly act of violence" and said the FBI will take the lead in the investigation.
Dozens of people lined up at a nearby blood donation center after the shootings.
The health department, colleges and other facilities in Chattanooga were locked down during the rampage, as was the governor's office in Nashville.
U.S. House Speaker John Boehner offered his condolences to the families of the victims. "Today's cowardly attack is a reminder that our men and women in uniform are under constant threat, no matter where they serve," he said.
Both of Tennessee's U.S. senators addressed the shooting on the Senate floor and offered their condolences.
"We understand a shooting took place at the naval reserve center in Chattanooga and a police officer has been injured," Sen. Lamar Alexander said. "We understand other individuals at the naval reserve center may have injured as well."
1 comment:
My understanding is that Jade Helm started yesterday. Can you say "Actors" as in like Sandy Hook? Did you see any bodies, etc.; just a bunch of bullet holes in some windows.
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