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Navy official says 26 were attacked, 13 died

Posted at 8:46 PM, Sep 16, 2013
and last updated 2013-09-16 21:03:44-04

WASHINGTON D.C. (CNN)–Besides the 13 people who were killed, 14 people were injured in Monday morning’s shooting at the Washington Navy Yard, Navy Vice Adm. William D. French told reporters Monday night.

The 13 dead include suspect Aaron Alexis.

The  suspect, who authorities believe was staying at a Washington hotel, drove onto the post with his military contractor identification and parked.

He walked a short distance into the Naval Sea Systems Command and made his way to an overlook above atrium and started shooting down, a U.S. law enforcement official told CNN.

He was armed with an AR-15, a rifle and a semi-automatic Glock. It is believed he used AR-15 for most of the shooting, the official said.

Just after 8:15 a.m. ET. the first frantic calls to police were received about shots fired at Building 197.

The Navy issued five text message alerts to workers, communicating about shelters and key information about safety procedures.

D.C. Navy Yard shootings -- complete coverage The injured included a Washington police officer who has been hospitalized, and a base security guard officer, said Metropolitan Police Department spokeswoman Saray Leon.

Three people, including the D.C. police officer, were admitted to MedStar Washington Hospital Center with multiple gunshot wounds. They are expected to survive, chief medical officer Janis Orlowski told reporters.

One person was pronounced dead at George Washington University Hospital, according to Dr. Babak Sarani, chief of trauma and acute care there.

The names of those killed, except for the suspected shooter, have not been made public, pending notification of their families.

Police said one other gunman may be on the loose. Authorities earlier said there could be two gunmen at large, but later said one of them had been cleared.

The other possible suspect described by police — a black male, between 40 and 50, wearing an “olive drab-colored” military-style uniform — has not been ruled out, Gray said.

CBS News reports that while Alexis’ motive is still not clear, officials said he is a former avionics electrician with the U.S. Navy. He is also a decorated soldier.

He had been arrested at least twice previously: once in Seattle for malicious mischief, and once in Fort Worth in 2010 for discharging a firearm in public. He has lived in New York City also, CBS network reports.

In fact, police reports suggest that Alexis attempted to conclude he had a sort of PTSD after witnessing Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.