The gun topic is already extremely controversial, and unfortunately, that won’t change today, as another shooting occurred this morning in Washington DC. The Associated Press released the following article:
Associated Press
WASHINGTON — A gunman opened fire inside a building at the Washington Navy Yard on Monday morning, and a Defense Department official said several people were killed and as many as 10 were wounded, including at least one law enforcement officer.
A shooter was “contained” but not yet in custody, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. Helicopters swarmed overhead, schools were on lockdown and airplanes at nearby Reagan National Airport were grounded as authorities swarmed the area in southeast D.C., just miles from the Capitol.
About 3,000 people work at the Naval Sea Systems Command headquarters.
The exact number of people killed and the conditions of those wounded was not immediately known.
Rick Mason, a program management analyst who is a civilian with the U.S. Navy, said a gunman was shooting from a fourth floor overlook in the hallway outside his office. He said the gunman was aiming down at people in the building’s cafeteria on the first floor. Mason said he could hear the shots but could not see a gunman.
Shortly after the gunfire, Mason said overhead speakers told workers to seek shelter and later to head for the gates at the complex.
Patricia Ward, a logistics management specialist, said she was in the cafeteria and heard shots. They sounded like “pop, pop, pop,” she said. After a few seconds, there were more shots, she said.
“Everybody just panicked at first,” she said. “It was just people running, running, running.”
Ward said security officers started directing people out of the building with guns drawn.
Police and federal agents from multiple law enforcement agencies responded to the scene. Ambulances were parked outside, streets in the area were closed and departures from Reagan National Airport were temporarily halted for security reasons.
Among the wounded was a D.C. police officer, according to a law enforcement official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation.
A U.S. Park Police helicopter hovered over the building and appeared to drop a basket or a stretcher with a person onto the roof.
Naval Sea Systems Command is the largest of the Navy’s five system commands and accounts for a quarter of the Navy’s entire budget. It builds, buys and maintains the Navy’s ships and submarines and their combat systems.
Copyright 2013 Associated Press
