WASHINGTON – The deadly attack at the Washington Navy Yard was carried out by one of the military’s own: a defense contract employee and former Navy reservist who used a valid pass to get onto the installation and started firing inside a building, killing 12 people before he was slain in a gun battle with police.

The shooting was the deadliest on a military installation in the U.S. since the tragedy at Fort Hood, Texas, in 2009.

Law enforcement officials say gunman Aaron Alexis carried three weapons at the Navy Yard: an AR-15 assault rifle, a shotgun and a handgun he took from an officer at the scene.

D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier says investigators now believe Alexis was acted alone. Authorities had earlier said they were searching for a possible second suspect.

Investigators say his motive is a mystery.

 

Monday – D.C. police and the FBI say there’s a report of a shooter inside a military building at the Washington Navy Yard.

6:15 p.m. – The FBI has now identified 34-year-old Texas military contractor Aaron Alexis as the suspect in today’s shooting. Alexis is dead, along with 12 others. Police are still seeking other possible suspects, but it’s not clear whether there was another shooter.

2:06 p.m. – At least 12 people are dead after one to three shooters opened fire at the naval yard Monday morning. Officials confirmed one shooter dead, but there could be two other shooters who are unaccounted. This information is according to D.C.’s mayor, Vincent Gray.

Authorities are looking for a white man and a black man in military-style clothing who could be connected to the shooting.

1:00 p.m. – Police officials are looking for two additional potential shooters.

11:39 a.m. – AP: Federal law enforcement official says shooter at Washington Navy Yard has died.

11:30 a.m. – CNN reports naval spokesperson says “two shooters are down”.

Earlier:

Police are responding to reports of shots fired, and an FBI spokeswoman says there’s at least one victim.

The U.S. Navy also confirmed on Twitter that they’re looking for a gunman.

The Washington Navy Yard says on its website that it’s the Navy’s oldest shore establishment. It’s home to the chief of Naval Operations and is also headquarters for the Naval Historical Center and numerous naval commands.

11:13 a.m. – Two officials say police are looking into the possibility of a second shooter at the Washington Navy Yard where several people were killed.

A Defense Department official and a law enforcement official spoke on condition of anonymity Monday because they were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation.

Earlier:

**According to CNN, Washington-Reagan National Airport is currently on a ground-stop, but it is not known if that is due to the shooting. The airport is five miles away from the naval yard. At least ten people have been injured or killed. Two victims of the shooting are police officers. The gunman is known as a 6-foot, bald, black male wearing dark pants, and a dark shirt. He is reported as being barricaded inside a building in the naval yard.

*The naval yard is 2.6 miles from the White House; it is 1.3 miles from the U.S. Capitol; it is 4.3 miles from The Pentagon.